5 replies to this topic

[Twinkle]

Good day

 

I trust everyone is well

 

I currently manage several portfolios all in a day. However Im trying to make things alot more automated for my workload as currently everything is manual.

Im hoping some one can assist or direct me to the right software.

 

Im looking for a software for:

1. Where i input my formulation and it creates a finished good specification that has all the legal information required.

2. A software to collect Supplier Data, where they can login and upload all their certificates, COAs, Specs, test reports etc

3. A soft for research and development that can assist with development also with providing legal limits of ingredients etc.

 

Note its for dry powder blending manufacturing

 

Thank you in advance

[MDaleDDF]

I'm also in dry blending, and I doubt there's anything out there that does all 3.    Something that creates a complete finished good specification would have to be written specifically to your company.   My MRP computes nutritional data and spits out nut panels, but I also have to feed the machine data for each ingredient, update it annually, etc, so it's still a pita.

 

There are sites you can use that have suppliers upload data, but good luck getting them to do it.   I've dealt with them, and honestly it's easier to just keep a folder on my computer for each supplier and update it annually when they send out new paperwork and I do my spec review, etc.    Not to mention you have to pay a monthly fee to use these services, and you still end up babysitting suppliers because they'll drag their feet on doing it.   Whenever someone asks me to maintain sites like this, I say no.   I'm not here to do someone else's data entry.   I'll send you all the supplier paperwork you want, but I'm not going to spend my valuable time typing it all in, uploading it, whatever.  That's their job.

 

Multiple platforms of R&D software are out there I'm sure, but I don't know if there's anything specific to dry blending.    Also not sure how it would assist with development?   Not sure what exactly you mean by that.    Providing any kind of legalities, again, is something you'd have to feed into a software, and legalities on certain things vary depending on where you're shipping it to, etc.   I just use a simple excel sheet I made up.   Our MRP also has an R&D program, but I honestly prefer not to use it.

Edited by MDaleDDF, 05 March 2026 - 12:06 PM.

[Twinkle]

Thank you for this

 

The MRP program you use, is it an excel document with macros etc?

 

Im fine with inputting my data and it auto generates in Excel, however I dont have the slighest idea how to create those fancy fancy excel spreadsheets

I'm also in dry blending, and I doubt there's anything out there that does all 3.    Something that creates a complete finished good specification would have to be written specifically to your company.   My MRP computes nutritional data and spits out nut panels, but I also have to feed the machine data for each ingredient, update it annually, etc, so it's still a pita.

 

There are sites you can use that have suppliers upload data, but good luck getting them to do it.   I've dealt with them, and honestly it's easier to just keep a folder on my computer for each supplier and update it annually when they send out new paperwork and I do my spec review, etc.    Not to mention you have to pay a monthly fee to use these services, and you still end up babysitting suppliers because they'll drag their feet on doing it.   Whenever someone asks me to maintain sites like this, I say no.   I'm not here to do someone else's data entry.   I'll send you all the supplier paperwork you want, but I'm not going to spend my valuable time typing it all in, uploading it, whatever.  That's their job.

 

Multiple platforms of R&D software are out there I'm sure, but I don't know if there's anything specific to dry blending.    Also not sure how it would assist with development?   Not sure what exactly you mean by that.    Providing any kind of legalities, again, is something you'd have to feed into a software, and legalities on certain things vary depending on where you're shipping it to, etc.   I just use a simple excel sheet I made up.   Our MRP also has an R&D program, but I honestly prefer not to use it.

[MDaleDDF]

Thank you for this

 

The MRP program you use, is it an excel document with macros etc?

 

Im fine with inputting my data and it auto generates in Excel, however I dont have the slighest idea how to create those fancy fancy excel spreadsheets

No, our MRP is our production software that does all the batch setup, ingredient lot tracking, inventory, etc.    It does have a R&D portion, but I do not use it.   

 

I set up all R&D as percentage, so all my ingredients add up to 100% when I'm doing R&D, and when I release a new formula, it's just pounds.   So our MRP uses pounds, and one formula = 100 lbs.    So 100% transfers to it with no issue.    1% = 1 pound.    

I've attached an old RND sheet from a sugar cookie I worked up back in the day....

Attached Files

•  RND Sugar Cookie.1.xlsx   13.24KB   14 downloads

[Bo16]

Document Compliance is a simple program for incoming vendor required documents and it also has customer document storage/contact information as well.  There is an internal section that I haven't used yet.

The one reason I like this program for vendors is because there is no login requirement for them.  They get an email with any required to be filled out/sent in documents and they upload that way.  They can see what they have uploaded, but do not have access to the program.  They can also update their contact information themselves!  People change all the time.  

 

It will only send for what you require, you set expiration dates to request new documents, how often, what time - 30 days before, weekly after expired... your call (it will send the email automatically) it will not create forms or help you with determining what documentation you need.

 

[QAlessandro]

Hello, 

 

Replying to the statement below, we use software called Certyfix to automatically request supplier certificates (and other documents like declarations of compliances). 

If a supplier doesn't upload their certificate before their old one is expired, Certyfix will call them to make sure the related document is uploaded. 

 

There are sites you can use that have suppliers upload data, but good luck getting them to do it.   I've dealt with them, and honestly it's easier to just keep a folder on my computer for each supplier and update it annually when they send out new paperwork and I do my spec review, etc.    Not to mention you have to pay a monthly fee to use these services, and you still end up babysitting suppliers because they'll drag their feet on doing it.   Whenever someone asks me to maintain sites like this, I say no.   I'm not here to do someone else's data entry.   I'll send you all the supplier paperwork you want, but I'm not going to spend my valuable time typing it all in, uploading it, whatever.  That's their job.