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Stocktake programs

Posted: 09 Jun 2022, 15:10
by agregory
Hi everyone

What do you all use for stocktake programs?

I have Omega Scientific's Laboratory Stock Controller program - it's quite old now.
I've tried Quartzy but it doesn't do all that Stock Controller does (historical purchase dates/prices etc).

I'd rather not use spreadsheets etc. Any other programs you use?

Annette

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 14 Jun 2022, 11:41
by Marama T
I used Chemwatch FFX Gold in other schools, but just use Excel now.

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 14 Jun 2022, 13:10
by macca
same Excel, use information from Riskassess program; DG class, PK group, UN, CAS and user codes

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 18 Jun 2022, 11:20
by Anna Z
macca wrote: 14 Jun 2022, 13:10 same Excel, use information from Riskassess program; DG class, PK group, UN, CAS and user codes
same

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 24 Jun 2022, 09:22
by labbassistant
Hi all this might be a silly question, but I'm trying to see if ChemWatch is easier to use than excel for the stocktake, and I'm entering in the quantity of methylated spirits we have (current volume) and its is asking for the maximum volume. Does this mean the max we are allowed to keep onsite?
If this is the case, where do I find that information for each chemical? I've looked in CSIS and I can't find anything on this.
Thanks!

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 24 Jun 2022, 09:31
by agregory
I wanted a Stocktake program for everything in the lab - beakers, flasks etc as well as chemicals, so Chemwatch won't work for that

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 24 Jun 2022, 10:30
by ottenc
labbassistant wrote: 24 Jun 2022, 09:22 Hi all this might be a silly question, but I'm trying to see if ChemWatch is easier to use than excel for the stocktake, and I'm entering in the quantity of methylated spirits we have (current volume) and its is asking for the maximum volume. Does this mean the max we are allowed to keep onsite?
If this is the case, where do I find that information for each chemical? I've looked in CSIS and I can't find anything on this.
Thanks!
I treat this as the maximum you will usually have. If you usually have 2 bottles of spirits in your chem store, how many mL or L will that be? If you usually have 2 500mL bottles, regardless of how full they are, I'd put the maximum at 1L

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 25 Jun 2022, 09:15
by Anna Z
It's the max you will ever store. I have mine set at 2L

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 27 Jun 2022, 08:17
by Merilyn1
labbassistant wrote: 24 Jun 2022, 09:22 Hi all this might be a silly question, but I'm trying to see if ChemWatch is easier to use than excel for the stocktake, and I'm entering in the quantity of methylated spirits we have (current volume) and its is asking for the maximum volume. Does this mean the max we are allowed to keep onsite?
If this is the case, where do I find that information for each chemical? I've looked in CSIS and I can't find anything on this.
Thanks!
Yep, common practice to show the maximum quantity you will ever have. For example, if I buy sodium hydroxide in a 500g container and only ever have one, then the quantity is 500g whether the container is full or not.

Keep in mind, there is no legal requirement (in NSW) to show the quantities of your chemicals on your register. Good to have this information but not mandated. You would need to include this on a manifest but most of us will never come close to needing this. The quantities for a manifest can be found in the WHS Regulations.

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 27 Jun 2022, 08:18
by Merilyn1
agregory wrote: 24 Jun 2022, 09:31 I wanted a Stocktake program for everything in the lab - beakers, flasks etc as well as chemicals, so Chemwatch won't work for that
Don't know of anything. Spreadsheet is usually the easiest. If you were super good on data bases you could try that.
I use a spreadsheet.

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 01 Jul 2022, 09:27
by labbassistant
Hi all,

I'm thinking of switching to chemwatch for our stocktake, and I've spoken to another labbie about this, but does anyone know if you're meant to run a report after all information has been entered? Or is it just when all quantities have been entered that is complete, and you can then print each storage location and have a hard copy?
I know when I do the excel program from CSIS, that there is a report to run which generates a list on total quantities for each DG class.
Is this something that Chemwatch does also or not?
Hope this makes sense..
Thank you

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 01 Jul 2022, 12:22
by ottenc
I've been playing with Chemwatch attempting to run a report that would give this to you. I have found a dashboard that gives this data when set up correctly. Does this look like what you'd want?

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 01 Jul 2022, 12:45
by labbassistant
YES! Can you please tell me how you did that? Thanks so much!

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 01 Jul 2022, 13:39
by ottenc
On the main page (when you first open) there is a button for 'dashboard' that has a picture of a pie chart. Go there and then 'add widgets' for the data you would like to see

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 01 Jul 2022, 13:49
by labbassistant
Awesome thanks so much, I added them.
I see in the top right corner there is a report button, is this something you (or anyone) uses to generate a report or would you just print the widgets page?

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 01 Jul 2022, 13:58
by ottenc
There are a number of different report types on there, and they could be useful I suppose depending on what you're doing. But other than a copy of my manifest (material, volume, dg, location), I can honestly say I don't use anything like that. But then I've only been in the job for a few months, so I'm hardly an expert!

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 01 Jul 2022, 14:13
by labbassistant
No worries, that has definitely helped me. Thanks again

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 22 Jul 2022, 09:20
by labbassistant
Hey,
I've been adding chemicals to chemwatch for our stocktake, and when I click and drag across to the corresponding folder, it says 'successfully added', but when I click on that folder it is not there...
I've checked the others to see if I accidentally dropped into the wrong one but no I didn't.
Has this happened to anyone? And is there something I am doing wrong or an easier way to add to the folder?
Thanks!

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 22 Jul 2022, 09:58
by bigmack
Alas that is the sort of annoying thing you will get with Chemwatch .Not to mention , the abysmally slow response to anything you do on it . The random lockups , the chemicals it randomly adds over the next few months .

It sucks . That is why most of us have now created our own Excel database . Sorry that wasn't helpful . :console:

At any stage , you can save a report as an excel file and continue to make your own .I have saved a copy of all our SDS's on our school server and have a link on each Chemical to that SDS.

Re: Stocktake programs

Posted: 22 Jul 2022, 10:03
by labbassistant
Added chemicals?!
We have used excel for years but I worked at another school and they use chemwatch for their stocktake and it seemed so much easier so I thought I'll give it a ago (still keeping the excel spreadsheets), I guess I'll wait till next year and see how I've managed :crazy:

Thank you!