ALIS is full of timesaving features and utilities that gives the laboratory personnel greater control and quicker access to information. Here are some examples:
ALIS does Windows. The program is written to operate in the Microsoft Windows environment. The user will soon be comfortable navigating around the program because it will feel and act similarly to other Windows applications. It has been tested under Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 and now XP. Easy input screens guide you intuitively through the process. Pre-defined customizable group tests make it quick to select a particular package of tests for each sample.
ALIS is organized. As the sample is entered initially, ALIS creates a place to record all the tests to be run on that sample. When the batch is ready to process, lab sheets can be printed for each testing method with the appropriate elements or tests on each one and a place to record each sample's results along with a place for blanks, house reference materials and duplicates if so desired.
Instrumentation like balances, pH/EC meters, spectrometers, turbidimeters, atomic absorption units, etc. that have RS232 interface ports may be connected to a computer network and ALIS will receive and store the measurements from the instrument. This saves a data entry step and helps cut down on transcription errors which comes into play when the lab technician writes the result down and then a data entry person attempts to interpret hand-written results from the lab sheet into the computer. Also available within each module is a wizard procedure to step you through setting up imports for equipment that produces data files. ALIS can easily import that data directly.
ALIS provides accuracy and control through built-in utilities that run behind the screens to help check for errors as information is recorded and to assure safe keeping of stored data. Manager defined parameters verify test results and flag results that are out of range. Standard deviations for house reference materials are calculated and compared to test results in real-time. If results are out of range ALIS notifies the lab technician and manager.
The versatile security system gives management multi-level control over who is allowed where within the system.
ALIS has an inventory control function that keeps track of supplies reducing the chances of unexpected shortages. It also tracks the aging of standards, references and reagents.
There are dozens of reports already formatted and ready for use. If desired, a report writer program (such as SoftVelocity's ReportWriter tm) can be used to create reports and forms unique to the particular laboratory, or Desert Oasis Software Company is available to create customized reports at reasonable programming rates.
The ability to export data increases the testing lab's efficiency in today's fast moving work place because results from tests can be directly submitted electronically to the grower, ag consultant, or fertilizer company. Reports can be printed or sent by fax, or e-mailed to various destinations. Billing information can be exported directly into an accounting package such as Quickbooks. If you work with the Agvance folks, you will be happy to know that ALIS has the native Agvance file format progammed and ready for you to use as needed.
GALP (Generally Accepted Laboratory Practices) compliance is a very high priority and every effort is made to follow these high standards.
ALIS was written in SoftVelocity's Clarion 5.5 tm in order to take advantage of the speed, data security, and the immense number of records allowable.
ALIS does Environmental Samples. ALIS monitors air quality with specific tests you define. Appropriate recommendations for remediation can then be made according to regulatory policy.