12 replies to this topic

[ncorliss]

Hello All,

 

My company is an FDA regulated / SQF certified manufacturer of food contact surfaces. We are currently managing our training records with signed training logs and an excel spreadsheet training matrix. It has so far met the requirements but at risk for various problems. We are investigating some training record database tools that also meet the FDA part 11 for electronic records. Would anyone have any recommendations? We are a three site, 250 - 300 employee business. Any idea on cost?

[Simon]

Training software is not something I've ever used, so did a google search - if you pick your way through the results on that review site you will see it includes both software for tracking employee training (I think what you want) and also quite a few LMS (Learning Management Systems) that are platforms for creating training.  Hopefully that list will help for starters until someone with experience can input.

 

Added: And of course Safefood360 software includes a training module.

[it_rains_inside]

Our company uses a software called IndustrySafe. This program tracks safety training (as well as accident investigation) and also on the job training sessions.

[S Maddux]

We use Alchemy, best thing we ever did.  Alchemy has trainings backed by BRC and SQF.  They have a bunch of trainings set up plus you can add your own trainings to the system.  Each employee has their own remote that they check out.  As the training goes on each person must answer the question correctly or it goes over the question again.  The best part is all the training records are keep on the cloud with all the info you need to satisfy BRC and SQF.  And the training really works.  Very interactive.  I recommend it to everyone.  This training does take a cost.  I got our CEO to purchase it after I showed him how many of our customers use it.  That was all it took.  Good luck 

[ncorliss]

thank you all for the replies! Just curious, what was the general cost to implement?

[Mulan1010]

I agree with S. Maddux, Alchemy is a wonderful training system and their support and customer service is right there with you and they have great training classes on how to use the system every month.  Also, as S. Maddux pointed out, a big plus is that SQF and BRC auditors are very familiar with it.  The first two years of SQF Auditing the training section of the audit was pretty brutal; then we started using Alchemy and now that part of the audit is only about 5 to 10 minutes.
 

[EHam]

Our company also uses Alchemy. I highly recommend. Like S Maddux mentioned, you can make your own training material for anything. Job specific, company specific, anything you need training for. Even if you don't know where to start, the canned training sessions are pretty decent. This training system would probably be quite beneficial considering you have 3 different facilities which more than likely have different programs and procedures. I'm sure you could call or e-mail for a quote.

[SpursGirl]

We use Alchemy too - worth the initial outlay.

 

Sarah

[S Maddux]

Alchemy will run about $25,000 to $35,000.  Depends on the number of employees and hardware you need.  It is very nice to see that so many companies use Alchemy.  Good Luck.

[Simon]

Alchemy will run about $25,000 to $35,000.  Depends on the number of employees and hardware you need.  It is very nice to see that so many companies use Alchemy.  Good Luck.

 

Alchemy sounds great and top of the range.  If you have the backing of senior management for such an investment you are certainly lucky to be working for such and enlightened organization. I wager (in fact I know) many on the forums are not.  The original poster was asking for a simple training record keeping database and I've not hear many suggestions about that.

[mgourley]

If anyone is mildly skilled in Access, a simple, functional database can be had for virtually no cost. Well, except for the time needed to enter the data.

 

Marshall

[ncorliss]

Thank you all for the replies!

[ksteele]

I believe you are a plastic manufacturer? We have found our ERP system, IQMS to be great for logging trainings. Not sure if you use any ERP but that may be an option as well