Archives des Quality + Risk - fr BPA Solutions

What Does AI Bring to Your Quality Management System?

mai 23, 2023/0 Commentaires/dans Medical, News, Quality + Risk/par Boris Lutz

BPA Solutions has explored different AI tools and their usage for quality management, such as chatbots, object detection, and prediction.

Ask a chatbot to search the QMS and share interactive cards with your colleagues in real-time discussion flows.

AI is everywhere but what can it really bring to you Quality Management System?

As a software editor in the Microsoft ecosystem, we are investigating AI tools based on MS technologies in the context of quality management. AI models are used to simplify tasks such as prediction, form/document processing, object detection, category classification, and entity extraction.

At BPA, we mostly work on AI models to identify key elements in the text and classify them into predefined categories. This model allows users to ask common questions to a chatbot (in Microsoft Teams) and get relevant content from your eQMS, like my pending actions, or last published documents. Also, we use AI to search for similar documents or non-conformances and simplify problem solving. These tools provide a new way to use the eQMS with productive real-time discussions, avoiding cumbersome email processes, and simplifying user experience. We recently introduced these AI tools to the market as powerful eQMS extensions.

We have investigated the object detection AI model which is interesting for quality control operations, or inventory management. However, this model needs to get trained with thousands of photos. For equipment verification, we developed a Power Apps with a barcode scanner to quickly identify equipment with no need to train an AI model which is costly and long with potential inaccuracies as a result.

This leads to always consider time, cost and results when using AI.

Prediction AI models are used to analyze patterns in historical data that you provide and predict future outcomes. This is used for preventive equipment maintenance or statistical process control.

Can ChatGPT Help in the Context of Quality Management?

ChatGPT is not (yet) able to index the whole content from your eQMS software. It has been designed to retrieve content from the whole Internet community. In this context, ChatGPT could assist quality managers to make informed decisions and enforce good quality management practices.

By combining contextual data from your eQMS with domain of expertise, ChatGPT can provide guidance to Q-Managers and simplify quality management.

BPA is investigating possible ways to use ChatGPT and combine contextual eQMS content with domain of expertise. For example, asking for possible corrective actions for a temperature excursion non-conformance with a pharmaceutical product, or asking for possible root causes for such a non-conformance. This could bring significant improvements in the quality landscape.

Enable the Future of Quality

With the BPA QMS software, users become active participants in improving the quality of products and services across different devices such as phones and platforms, like AI and discussions, enabling the future of work and reaching smart quality. With Microsoft 365, we leverage existing technologies used by collaborators on a daily basis and enable innovative tools to simplify quality management.

>> Ask for a free eQMS trial

Your Docs in the Pocket with the BPA Document Power Apps

mai 23, 2023/0 Commentaires/dans Medical, News, Quality + Risk/par Boris Lutz

The document power apps is a generic app to simplify access to documents with any device, anywhere even while offline. The app is ready to be used with the BPA eQMS software on Microsoft 365.

BPA Document Power Apps introduction video.

In the BPA software, compliance documents are prepared, approved, published and we make sure collaborators read and understand their related published documents. A barcode is automatically generated for each document.

The barcode reader integrated in the document Power Apps provides a quick and easy way to open a document with no need of an extra scanning device, for example an equipment verification procedure by scanning a barcode on the equipment, or an incoming inspection checklist by scanning the barcode at the inspection desk.

Documents can be easily accessed by selecting a process and a sub process. Documents open in full screen with zoom in option and quick navigation in pages.

The breadcrumb makes it easy to navigate in processes and documents. For offline use, documents can be downloaded in your device.

Simply select a document as a favorite to retrieve it in one click from the favorite documents.

The search form lets you find documents by title, identification, process or sub process.

You can change the app display to dark or clear mode and select your own logo and picture for the home page.

Accessing documents has never been so easy and fun. Use your own device with no need of extra scanner or hardware. Avoid manual work, save cost and make sure everyone access the last approved version of published documents easily.

>> Ask for a free trial access

Announcing Teams Forms

mars 28, 2023/0 Commentaires/dans BPA Solutions, CRM, Medical, News, Quality + Risk/par Boris Lutz

We strongly believe in productive chatting to become the future way of working. We introduced Teams Productivity to interact with BPA software solutions while chatting in Teams and search for documents and items without leaving the chat box. Now, we are announcing Teams Forms for end users to easily register any event or request while discussing in Teams.

Select a form to complete in a Teams discussion.

Imagine you are discussing in Teams and need to assign a task related with the discussion, register a non-conformance, a sales opportunity or request for a document while chatting in Teams. This is now possible with no need to leave Teams and lose context.

Simply select a form among the available form templates. Unlike Microsoft Forms which are disconnected from the business software, Teams Forms include your business data, like list of products, stakeholders, processes… and can be assigned to internal collaborators.

Register a non-conformance while discussing in Teams, and keep the business context.

Once submitted, the form data is saved in the BPA software and triggers automated workflows for quick treatment and resolution.

After registration, a card displays in the Teams discussion flow, ready to be shared with team members.

Power users can create forms in minutes without leaving Microsoft Teams and simply select the main list and fields to display in the form.

Power users design Teams Forms in minutes, directly within Microsoft Teams.

Teams Forms makes it easy for end users to register forms while discussing in Teams with no need to access the BPA software, enabling the future of work.

>> Ask us for a product demonstration

Dynamics 365 QMS Software

mars 28, 2023/0 Commentaires/dans BPA Solutions, CRM, Medical, News, Quality + Risk/par Boris Lutz

BPAQuality365 extends Dynamics 365 with a robust Quality Management – QMS software. Business Central is an ERP software with modules for finance, cash management, sales, and purchasing management.

It’s easy for users to retrieve seamless data from Dynamics 365 while filling in a form in the BPA QMS software. For instance, when registering a non-conformance, supplier data in D365 can be searched and related fields, like vendor number and city, (or others) will be automatically saved in the form. Any other data can be retrieved easily, like articles, customers, or invoices.

External data is saved in BPA and can be searched and filtered in the software, and displayed in grouped views. Furthermore it can be used in BPA reporting tools, like charts to report the number of incidents by vendor, or in Power BI reports.

The form designer lets power users add external data easily, in any form, with no coding needed.

BPAQuality365 brings Dynamics users a robust QMS software seamlessly integrated with their ERP system, sharing the same user directory, and avoiding redundant data.

>> Ask us for a free trial

Equipment Power Apps with Barcode Scanner

mars 28, 2023/0 Commentaires/dans BPA Solutions, Medical, News, Quality + Risk/par Boris Lutz

BPA’s Equipment Power Apps is a generic app for users to simplify equipment verification with a barcode scanner on any device, anywhere even while offline.

Prebuilt Equipment Power Apps to work jointly with the BPA QMS software on Microsoft 365.

Equipment can be added easily or mass imported in the BPA software with their needed properties, like the equipment photo and a verification procedure. A barcode is automatically generated for each equipment.

The barcode reader integrated in the Equipment Power Apps provides a quick and easy way to search for an equipment with no need of an extra scanning device. Once the equipment barcode is scanned, the equipment page opens in the app with equipment details, photo and verification document. The verification procedure can be viewed in the app (or downloaded on your device for offline use).

From the equipment page, it’s possible to view the recent verification history. Users can make equipment available for an offline verification (if no internet connection). It’s possible to start a planned or unplanned verification. Planned verifications are created in the BPA software, with automated workflows.

During the equipment verification, users can simply log the compliance value, take some notes (or use speech to text) and take pictures or the completed verification checklist, or any failure observed. As a verification responsible person, your pending equipment verifications are summarized in one page, by date, like overdue, this week and later.

The search form let you find equipment by name, location or category.

The backend QMS software is automatically updated with verification compliance, notes and photos.

Equipment verification has never been so easy and fun. Use your own device with no need of extra scanner or hardware. Save cost and make sure equipment deliver the right quality.

Ask us for a free trial now !

Announcing New Equipment & Asset Power Apps

février 28, 2023/0 Commentaires/dans BPA Solutions, Medical, News, Quality + Risk/par Boris Lutz

The new Equipment & Asset Power Apps is announced to be released soon with the objective to simplify equipment or asset management, equipment identification, verification, maintenance and calibration. The Power Apps is intended to be used for any equipment type, like production and measurement equipment or digital assets.

The frontend Equipment Power Apps works jointly with BPA back-office software solutions (QMS and Medical). It’s compliant with any device, like phones or tablets, and can be used offline for equipment verifications. The app was designed to be generic and match typical organizations needs.

Equipment can be added easily or mass imported in the BPA software with their needed properties, like a verification procedure or checklist. A barcode is automatically generated for each equipment.

Equipment list in the BPA software, with related barcodes and photos.

The barcode reader integrated in the Equipment Power Apps provides a quick and easy way to search for an equipment. The barcode reader can be used with your device, with no need of an extra scanning device.

Barcode scanner in the Equipment Power Apps.

Once the equipment barcode is scanned, the equipment page opens in the app with equipment details, photo and verification document. The verification procedure can be viewed in the app (or downloaded in a separate app).

Equipment details in the Equipment Power Apps, including photo, and verification procedure.

From the equipment page, it’s possible to start the verification process (planned or unplanned), and view the recent verification history.

Equipment verification form in the Equipment Power Apps, with attached photos.

Planned or unplanned verifications can be done with the app. A photo of the verification checklist or any photo can be added as proof of evidence.

Pending verifications (for the connected user) can be viewed in a separate page. It’s also possible to search for equipment in a specific location or from a selected category.

In the BPA software, planned verifications are automatically created based on verification frequency (with prebuilt Power Automate workflows). Reminder notifications are sent to equipment responsible persons about next-coming and overdue verifications.

All equipment and verification data, photos and notes are automatically stored in the BPA software.

The app welcome page and app background colors can be changed in the app settings.

The Equipment Power Apps is and extension of the BPA software (priced separately).

Ask us for a product presentation

Announcing New Microsoft Dynamics 365 Connector

février 28, 2023/0 Commentaires/dans BPA Solutions, CRM, Medical, News, Quality + Risk/par Boris Lutz

The new Dynamics 365 (Business Central) connector will be released shortly with the objective to provide seamless D365 connectivity when working in BPA software solutions.

Dynamics 365 Business Central is an ERP software with modules for finance, cash management, sales, and purchasing management.

Dynamics 365 gains popularity and it becomes strategic for BPA to bring powerful QMS capabilities to the Microsoft Business Central community. The new D365 connector makes it easy to extend Dynamics 365 with robust quality management features, like compliance document, audit and nonconformity management.

When registering a supplier nonconformity in the QMS software, it’s needed to retrieve seamless data about the supplier (vendor) and the purchased article (item) from D365. A choice column allows to search for a vendor or article by typing. Related information like the vendor city, or number will be retrieved in read-only fields.

Nonconformity registration form with vendor and article data from Dynamics 365.

The collected data from D365 are registered in the QMS, available for search, reporting or view grouping.

Supplier nonconformities grouped by D365 vendor in the QMS software.

Once a secure connection to Dynamics 365 has been established in the BPA software settings, new tools are available in BPA Form to map D365 fields with BPA columns. It’s quick and easy for power users to add D365 data in any form.

Form designer in the BPA software, with external data options and field mapping.

The new Dynamics 365 connector makes it easy to seamlessly connect with D365 data when working with BPA apps and avoid redundant data in different systems. Typical use cases are nonconformities linked with customers, vendors, and supplied or delivered products, audits linked with suppliers, and sales opportunities linked with customers.

The connector is soon available as a premium option (priced separately).

Ask us for a product presentation

Millennials & Gen Z – BPA Apps Ready for the Future of Work

février 28, 2023/0 Commentaires/dans BPA Solutions, CRM, Medical, News, Quality + Risk/par Boris Lutz

Gen Z and Millennials are the next generation of workers who have grown up with new technologies, mobile devices, and social networks.

Technologies and software solutions need to adapt to this new generation of workers. Usual software solutions need to be reengineered into user-friendly apps, compliant with any device, and including similar capabilities, like social network applications.

BPA software solutions have been designed to include these technologies, because they are built on the latest Microsoft 365 technologies, like Teams, Power Platform, and leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and productive discussion flows.

Because end users “consume” applications differently depending on their needs, location and device, we are convinced one single central application cannot make it for everyone. For this reason we have developed a central backend software solution and multiple frontend apps for different needs and situations.

We have built Power Apps for workers on the field and productions lines, to simply register incidents by taking photos with their mobile device, even while offline. Auditors have a generic Power Apps to simplify inspection work, answer interactive checklists with a tablet, record voice and take photos. The new equipment Power Apps makes it easy to scan a barcode to select an equipment, log verification date and photos. All these apps run on any device, with no need to purchase additional hardware.

Gen Z and Millennials are used to discuss on social networks. We strongly believe in productive chatting to become the future of work. With Microsoft Teams, we provide different apps to interact with the backend software by chatting. We are working on new features allowing end users to ask a chatbot to know about their pending items (e.g. my pending actions), or to register a new incident and get the incident form opened right in the chatbot.

Artificial Intelligence is mostly used to augment human intelligence when working with data, to find correlations and similar information. We are working on cognitive search capabilities to find documents by asking a chatbot or from a Teams discussion. We introduced the “find similar” option for users to find similar documents based on machine learning. This options will soon be available to find similar nonconformities, helping users to solve incidents based on previous events. Stay tuned, these new options will be available soon!

Gen Z is coming and BPA apps are ready for the future of work.

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Introducing BPA Cognitive Search to Easily Find Documents by Chatting

janvier 25, 2023/0 Commentaires/dans BPA Solutions, Medical, News, Quality + Risk/par Boris Lutz

At BPA Solutions, we strongly believe that the modern workplace is moving towards instant discussions with Microsoft Teams or other platforms. We have developed innovative tools (Teams Productivity, Teams Forms, Cognitive Search) to bring the business context back while chatting in Microsoft Teams, like searching and sharing data and documents from your eQMS or CRM in a discussion flow. Coming options allow users to start from preconfigured forms to register incidents, opportunities or any other event without leaving the chat box.

Ask the eQMS while discussing in Teams and share content with colleagues using BPA Teams Productivity.

BPA Cognitive Search is a new service to be used with BPA apps, leveraging Microsoft AI technologies and providing end users with a simple way to find the right documents by asking common questions to a chatbot. The AI chatbot works in any Teams channel or while chatting with colleagues. The tool returns best matching documents while writing keywords in the chat box. Users can refine search to find similar documents to others. Documents display based on users permissions and the service prevents users from viewing unauthorized documents.

2 options exist to use the AI cognitive search service. The first option is by directly asking the chatbot in Teams. Users can simply ask common questions in the discussion box and get best matching documents instantly. Documents display in cards, ready to be opened. The “Find Similar” buttons allows to find comparable documents in a mouse click.

Find the right documents by asking common questions to a chatbot in Teams and refine search to find similar documents.

The second option allows users to search for documents while discussing with colleagues or in specific Teams channels. This option is very useful when willing to share documents with colleagues and team members. Best matching documents display with a brief content summary. When selecting a document, a document card shows up in the discussion flow, ready to be shared with your colleagues. Team members can open the document or find similar ones.

Share documents with colleagues while chatting in Teams.

The BPA Cognitive Search service is now available for clients. Several Azure services are required and can be hosted by BPA or the client.

Ask Us for More Information or a Product Presentation

Simplify Audit Management with BPA Apps and Microsoft 365

janvier 25, 2023/0 Commentaires/dans BPA Solutions, Medical, News, Quality + Risk/par Boris Lutz

With BPA software and Audit Power Apps, we drastically simplify audit management in 3 simple steps:

Optimally plan the audit in Teams
Execute the audit easily with Power Apps
Merge the audit report with Power Automate

With Microsoft Teams, organizations get a powerful tool for teamworking. Dedicated Teams can be created for audit purposes and selected members can be invited. The audit planning is drastically simplified thanks to Teams calendar features. When scheduling an audit, Teams proposes the best options when auditors and auditees are available to meet.

Plan audits easily in Microsoft Teams, and let Teams propose the best time for your audits.

The audit is automatically created in the BPA software for auditors to select questions from a central library, complete preparation work, and share audit material.

Select audit questions easily by clause/chapter, e.g. ISO 9001 clause/chapter with the new released item selector in the BPA software.

The audit Power Apps developed by BPA is a prebuilt mobile app to simplify auditor’s experience while auditing. The app works on any device, like a tablet, even when no Internet connection is available. Auditors touch the screen to set compliance for each question, and optionally record voice and take photos. Evidences are automatically synced back in the BPA software.

Auditors run audits easily with any device, even while offline, with BPA’s generic Audit Power Apps.

After the audit execution, findings and actions can be added and managed in the BPA software. Automated workflows make sure the right persons are alerted, findings are investigated and actions are effective. A formatted audit report is automatically merged based on client’s template, including audit data and evidences, ready to be shared with the concerned persons.

An automated workflow merges a formatted audit report, based on client templates, including approval and PDF conversion.

We recently released new dashboard capabilities for easy graphical reporting with no need of Power BI licenses. Important audit metrics, like the number of findings, actions, and audit performance radars can be consolidated in a graphical dashboard.

New released audit dashboard in the BPA software (with no need of Power BI licenses).

If you want to test BPAQuality365, BPAMedical365 and the Audit Power Apps, simply ask us for a trial request below.

Ask us for a Free QMS & Power Apps Trial