Choosing an electronic Quality Management System (eQMS) might not sound like it has much in common with picking out a chocolate bar, but in many ways, the process is surprisingly similar. Both involve sifting through a variety of options to find the perfect fit for your specific needs and tastes. Just like when you’re deciding between dark, milk, or white chocolate, selecting the right eQMS requires considering your unique preferences, goals, and requirements.
Do you prioritize smoothness and simplicity, or do you need something with a bit more complexity and richness? In this blog, we’ll explore how the decision-making process for an eQMS mirrors the sweet (and sometimes overwhelming) experience of choosing your favourite chocolate bar. So, let’s unwrap the similarities and help you make a decision that’s both satisfying and beneficial
The eQMS Landscape
Here’s an interesting fact, just like chocolate, there are over 100 different versions of eQMS software available today! The remarkable thing is that you can build a compliant quality management system with any of these tools. You could even create one using basic platforms like SharePoint or Google Drive!
What Makes the Difference?
So what separates one eQMS from another? Different systems offer varying functionalities:
- Some leverage AI (artificial intelligence) capabilities
- Others focus on simplicity
- Many interconnect with other business functions
It’s all about understanding what’s right for you and your organization. Quality management system software provides both a tool and a framework to build your QMS around. The work and effort required to build a QMS is largely driven by your specific company needs.
The Value of Expertise
This is where consultants become valuable. Through their careers, consultants experience different types of QMS systems built by different organisations at various stages of development. We can help you determine not only where to begin but also where you may want to go in the future. Our perspective and expertise can support you in developing a long-term strategy for quality planning and QMS implementation.
Our Recommended Options
While hundreds of options exist, here are three QMS software providers we regularly work with:
- Cognidox – This is the system we use to build our own ISO-compliant QMS. It offers simple setup, ease of use, and scalability based on your company’s needs rather than forcing you into a predefined structure.
- TraceX – A robust alternative with its own strengths and considerations.
- ISMS – Another effective system that works well for certain organizational needs.
Both TraceX and ISMS work excellently, each with positives and negatives. The key is understanding what’s important to you, and we’d be happy to spend time with you to discuss these points. What works wonders for one organisation might not be suitable—or even detrimental—for another. This largely depends on each organisation’s unique needs, processes, and goals – just like how someone absolutely adores a coconut Bounty, whereas someone else, not so much!
Finding Your Perfect Match
Sometimes you want a Bounty, sometimes a Snickers, and sometimes you’re not even sure what you’re craving. But what you don’t want to do is settle for something medicore.
For more information on what’s right for you and how to effectively build a quality management system, get in touch with us on [email protected]. We can discuss these processes in more detail and help build you an effective, right-first-time quality management system tailored to your needs, after all, we maintain and work within our own QMS and know that a quality management system is for life, not just for your audits!
