Project Scope:  A major university research facility needed a better way to track the chemical inventory used in its various laboratories.  It needed a system that would monitor and track all chemicals as they moved from place to place, monitor supplies on hand,  generate re-order notices, and monitor location, usage & disposals for compliance purposes.

Solution:  After carefully reviewing the facility's needs, existing procedures, and other environmental factors, we determined that a FileMaker database would me most appropriate to handle the facility's inventory control and tracking system.  FileMaker was chosen for the host application because the laboratory was using both Macs and PC's side-by-side and needed a solution that could work across more than one platform.

When new inventory arrives, it is immediately entered into the FileMaker database.  At the same time, bar code labels are generated from FileMaker that will be used to track each individual container.  As the containers move from laboratory to laboratory, Symbol Technologies bar code scanners that are running an application we specifically developed to work with the host FileMaker database are used to track the location, usage and disposal of inventory.

This information is then transmitted wirelessly back to the FileMaker database, which uses the information to update its supply-on-hand for each chemical.  Once supplies reach their safety-stock level, new order notices are generated for approval by the facility's purchasing staff.  Reports are also generated that provide details of amounts and locations of each chemical on hand, as well as consumption information by lab or project.

To discuss your needs with one of our developers, please call us at 404.847.9585 or toll-free at 1.877.720.8115.  You can also contact us via e-mail or by using our web form.