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If you've been in the quality field for any length of time, you've almost assuredly come into contact with any number of compliance mandates, regulations and standards. You've also undoubtedly heard such processes referred to as "paper driven," and nowhere does this hold more true than in the constant auditing that goes hand-in-hand with most all of these processes.

But "paper driven" sounds so last-millennium. With all of the computing power now available, surely there are ways to digitize this ongoing chore (hopefully making it more efficient and less labor-intensive). Just ask your IT department. Anyone there will likely tell you they can use a computer to make just about any task easier to complete and more accurate. After all, this is the technology age. Almost forgotten are the days of pencils, Wite-Out, binder after binder overflowing with documents, walls of filing cabinets, and enough time staring at spreadsheets to have you seeing double. Today it's all about terabytes of server space, digital data, ergonomically designed keyboards and mice, and enough time staring at a computer monitor to have you seeing double.

 Indeed, your company likely already has more than enough computing power to delve into the world of auditing software. (Almost any PC built in the last three or so years meets this type of software's minimum requirements.) In fact, that's where the real power lies: in the software. But it's also where the difficulty lies.

 Sure, there are plenty of good reasons to use auditing software: In addition to accuracy and speed considerations, digital data is easier to back up, store, modify and distribute. But where do you get started comparing the myriad vendors vying for your business--each claiming its product is the best available?

 "The auditing system should be intuitive and easy-to-use," suggests Chris Parsons, Pilgrim Software's director of marketing. "It should feature powerful workflow capabilities for audit scheduling and task assignment. Security, flexibility and scalability are also important considerations. You should find a vendor that has a proven solution and existing customers in your industry, and that offers good support and software maintenance."

 As is true in several software niches, and contemporary life in general, the Internet is changing everything. Like products in those other software categories, auditing solutions proffered as the latest and greatest are Web-enabled, if not Web-based. Herein lies another pitfall. Make sure, especially with regard to Internet capabilities, you know what you're buying. Some packages, those that are Web-enabled--but may be called just about anything--use the Internet to share information. Such setups can require the application to be installed on every computer that requires access.

 Other packages are Web-based--though the nomenclature can vary here, too. Such offerings exist on a Web server, and are therefore available to any computer, anywhere, with an Internet connection and a browser. "The ability to lock down security to the record and field level allows auditees to access only the records that specifically pertain to them," explains AssurX Inc.'s Tamar June, referring to her company's Web-based auditing software. "The electronic workflow and automatic e-mail notifications enable the system to communicate audit findings and request responses with minimal fumbling around on the user's part."

 Another key consideration when shopping for auditing software is integration, namely with corrective and preventive action systems. "This ensures that issues uncovered during an audit are addressed through a closed-loop corrective action process," explains Parsons. "The best auditing systems provide remote auditing capabilities so that auditors can enter findings obtained during a field audit. Integration with supplier management systems enable audit findings to be included in supplier scorecards/ratings and also provide suppliers with the capability to log into the system to respond to corrective actions."

 According to Parsons and others, integration with other business systems (e.g., document management, human resources, incoming and in-process inspections, etc.) enables audit findings to be addressed across the enterprise.

 In final analysis, the purchasing considerations (as usual) are numerous and critical. They should include: compatibility and integration with other systems, ease of use, security, flexibility, scalability, reputation (preferably in your industry) and, of course, the granddaddy of all factors: cost.

 Although we have not evaluated, nor do we endorse, any such products, we're committed to providing you a start in your auditing software hunt. What follows below is a directory (complete with contact information) of companies that tell us they provide auditing software. Only those companies that responded to our requests for information are listed. Happy hunting.

      Providors of Auditing Software

4aBetterBusiness Inc.

 

Achiever Business Solutions

  • 355 E. Campus View Blvd., Ste. 285
  • Columbus, OH 43235
  • Ph. 888-645-4933 Fax 614-410-9004
  • www.goachiever.com

 

Advanced Systems & Designs Inc.

  • 3925 Industrial Drive
  • Rochester, MI 48309
  • Ph. 866-772-0012 Fax 248-844-2199
  • www.spcanywhere.com

 

AssurX Inc.

  • 305 Vineyard Town Center, Ste. 374
  • Morgan Hill, CA 95037
  • Ph. 408-778-1376 Fax 408-776-1267
  • www.assurx.com

 

AutoData Systems

  • 6111 Blue Circle Drive
  • Minnetonka, MN 55343
  • Ph. 800-662-2192 Fax 952-938-4693
  • www.autodata.com

 

CEBOS Ltd.

  • 24567 Northwestern Highway, Ste. 500
  • Southfield, MI 48075
  • Ph. 800-653-3478 Fax 248-357-1846
  • www.cebos.com

 

CimWorks

  • 11415 N.E. 128th St.
  • Kirkland, WA 98034
  • Ph. 800-955-7100 Fax 425-820-0437
  • www.cimworks.com

 

Creatively Simple Solutions Inc.

 

CyberMetrics Corp.

  • 7500 E. Butherus Drive, Ste. 105
  • Scottsdale, AZ 85260
  • Ph. 800-777-7020 Fax 480-922-7200
  • www.cybermetrics.com

 

DOES Institute

  • 519 Deacon Blvd.
  • Winston-Salem, NC 27105
  • Ph. 800-236-3637 Fax 336-723-5109
  • www.does.org

 

e-Trax Inc.

  • 96 Fifth St.
  • East Providence, RI 02914
  • Ph. 401-435-0067 Fax 401-435-0067
  • www.e-trax-inc.com

 

EtQ Inc.

  • 399 Conklin St., Ste. 208
  • Farmingdale, NY 11735
  • Ph. 800-354-4476 Fax 516-293-0784
  • www.etq.com

 

Fujitsu Software Corp.

  • 3055 Orchard Drive
  • San Jose, CA 95134
  • Ph. 408-456-7837 Fax 408-456-7821

 

Future Insite Inc.

  • 7055 Engle Road, Bldg. 5
  • Cleveland, OH 44130
  • Ph. 800-446-8665 Fax 440-826-3431
  • www.insite-inc.com

 

Global Quality Institute

  • 102 Rosedale Ave. W.
  • Brampton, ON L6X 1K1 Canada
  • Ph. 905-452-9788 Fax 905-452-1273
  • www.globalquality.com

 

The Harrington Group Inc.

  • 11501 Lake Underhill Road
  • Orlando, FL 32825
  • Ph. 800-476-9000 Fax 407-382-6141
  • www.hginet.com

 

Helm Instrument Co. Inc.

 

IBS America

 

IDS Scheer

  • 1205 West Lakes Drive
  • Berwyn, PA 19312
  • Ph. 800-810-2747 Fax 610-854-7382
  • www.ids-scheer.com

 

IMAS Corp.

  • 675 Tollgate Road, Ste. P
  • Elgin, IL 60123
  • Ph. 800-977-3248
  • www.xspec.com

 

Inclusive Solutions

 

InfoSynergy Inc.

  • 3155 Kearney St., Ste. 220
  • Fremont, CA 94538
  • Ph. 510-226-5760 Fax 510-226-5762
  • www.infosyne.com

 

Integral Solutions Inc.

 

Intelex Technologies Inc.

  • 165 Spadina Ave., Ste. 300
  • Toronto, ON M5T 2C3 Canada
  • Ph. 416-599-6009 Fax 416-599-6867
  • www.intelex.com

 

Interax Group

  • 655 Fulton St., Ste. 148
  • Brooklyn, NY 11217
  • Ph. 888-401-3956 Fax 866 619 5803
  • www.interaxgrp.com

 

Intercim Inc.

  • 501 E. Highway 13
  • Burnsville, MN 55337
  • Ph. 800-343-3734 Fax 952-894-0399
  • www.intercim.com

 

Interliance LLC

  • 151 Kalmus Drive, Ste. K2
  • Costa Mesa, CA 92626
  • Ph. 800-540-7917 Fax 714-540-6113
  • www.interliance.com

 

IQS Inc.

  • 19706 Center Ridge Road
  • Cleveland, OH 44116
  • Ph. 800-635-5901 Fax 440-333-3752
  • www.iqs.com

 

IQuES

  • 41820 W. Six Mile Road, No. 100
  • Northville, MI 48167
  • Ph. 800-793-2691 Fax 248-344-9451
  • www.iques.com/

 

ISO9

  • 1433 Webster St.
  • Oakland, CA 94612
  • Ph. 866-321-4769 Fax 509-357-8673
  • iso9.vintara.com

 

JK Technologies Inc.

  • 251 N.E. Dixie Blvd.
  • Delray Beach, FL 33444
  • Ph. 800-987-0160 Fax 804-975-3389
  • www.jkt9000.com

 

Lilly Software Associates Inc.

 

Lynk Software Inc.

 

MetricStream

 

Norfox Software Inc.

  • 5700 6th Ave. S., Ste. 200
  • Seattle, WA 98108
  • Ph. 866-966-7369 Fax 206-576-3490
  • www.norfox.com

 

Omnex Systems

  • 3025 Boardwalk, Ste. 120
  • Ann Arbor, MI 48108
  • Ph. 734-761-4940 Fax 734-747-6368
  • www.omnexsystems.com

 

Paperless Auditing Systems

  • 513 E. Lincoln St.
  • Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
  • Ph. 847-590-9294 Fax 847-590-9297

 

Pilgrim Software Inc.

 

Pister Group Inc.

  • 550 Eglinton Ave. W.
  • Toronto, ON M5N 3A8 Canada
  • Ph. 905-886-9470 Fax 905-764-6405
  • www.pister.com

 

Powerway Inc.

  • 6919 Hillsdale Court
  • Indianapolis, IN 46250
  • Ph. 800-964-9004 Fax 317-598-1740
  • www.powerwayinc.com

 

PQ Systems Inc.

  • 10468 Miamisburg-Springboro Road
  • Miamisburg, OH 45342
  • Ph. 800-777-3020 Fax 937-885-2252
  • www.pqsystems.com

 

Prism eSolutions LLC

  • 512 Township Line Road
  • 3 Valley Square, Ste. 362
  • Blue Bell, PA 19422
  • Ph. 888-386-2330 Fax 267-468-0199
  • www.prismesolutions.com

 

Proquis Inc.

  • 2590 Devon Ave., Ste. 213
  • Des Plaines, IL 60018
  • Ph. 877-876-3430 Fax 847-768-6921
  • www.proquis.com

 

Purchasing Solutions

  • 2431 N.W. 160th Ave.
  • Beaverton, OR 97006
  • Ph. 503-617-1525 Fax 503-617-1629
  • www.ps.to

 

QSET Inc.

  • 101 Federal St., Ste. 1900
  • Boston, MA 02110
  • Ph. 617-342-7090 Fax 510-739-1071
  • www.qset.com

 

Quality America Inc.

 

Quality Council of Indiana

  • 602 West Paris Ave.
  • West Terre Haute, IN 47885
  • Ph. 812-533-4215 Fax 812-533-4216

 

Quality Systems Enhancement Inc.

 

Quality Systems Integrators

  • P.O. Box 91
  • Eagle, PA 19480
  • Ph. 800-458-0539 Fax 610-458-7555
  • www.qsi-inc.com

 

Qualiware Inc.

  • 70 W. Red Oak Lane, 4th Floor
  • White Plaines, NY 10604
  • Ph. 914-697-4799 Fax 914-697-4797
  • www.qualiware.com

 

Rand E. Winters Group Inc.

  • 2120 44th St., Ste. 202
  • Grand Rapids, MI 49508
  • Ph. 800-847-6838 Fax 616-455-8133
  • www.rewgroup.com

 

Raosoft Inc.

  • 6645 N.E. Windermere Road
  • Seattle, WA 98115
  • Ph. 206-525-4025 Fax 206-525-4947
  • www.raosoft.com

 

Reger Quality Consultants

  • 3877 Victoria Drive
  • West Bend, WI 53090
  • Ph. 888-476-9004 Fax 262-335-3859
  • www.rqc.com

 

RFF Electronics

  • 1053 Banyan Court
  • Loveland, CO 80538
  • Ph. 970-663-5767 Fax 970-669-4889
  • www.rff.com

 

Software Productivity Centre Inc.

  • 1122 Mainland St., Ste. 460
  • Vancouver, BC V6B 5L1 Canada
  • Ph. 877-548-1948 Fax 604-689-0141
  • www.spc.ca

 

Stochos Inc.

  • 14 N. College St.
  • Schenectady, NY 12305
  • Ph. 800-426-4014 Fax 518-372-4789
  • www.stochos.com

 

Strider International

 

TIP Technologies Inc.

  • 12995 W. Lisbon Road, Ste. 200
  • Brookfield, WI 53005
  • Ph. 262-781-1211 Fax 262-781-1240
  • www.tiptech.com
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