Checkware: Digital checklists for Hazardous Areas (EX-Protected Areas) in the Industry

Burghausen, 27.04.2018 – New Solutions GmbH, a medium-sized provider of software solutions for the digitization of business processes on the "shop floor", has extended its standard checklist software Checkware for use with EX-protected mobile phones and tablets. The industry 4.0 application now also optimizes checklist management in potentially explosive areas of refineries or the chemical industry.

Digital checklists are increasingly being used in hazardous goods and explosion protection areas. This is partly due to the number of light and robust EX-protected mobile phones and tablets available. On the other hand, the legal requirements in the area of "environmental protection and compliance" have been tightened in recent years to such an extent that standardized, audit-proof processes, especially in the area of hazardous goods, are of critical importance to a company in view of high amounts of damage. "More and more companies are currently considering switching from paper-based solutions to digital checklists," confirms Christian Ehrenschwendtner, Managing Director of New Solutions GmbH in Burghausen/Germany.

The IT company has many years of experience with electronic checklists in the chemical and petrochemical industry. "When we started ten years ago, the first dangerous goods checklists were still filled in with explosion-proof devices that weighed over three kilograms and hung on a carrying strap," recalls Ehrenschwendtner. "Today's devices with Android and Windows 10 operating systems are not only significantly smaller and lighter, but also much more powerful. They are therefore much better suited for complex industry 4.0 applications".

Digital Checklists on mobile devices for ex areas Atex Zone 2 or Atex Zone 1.

Industrial app for central, audit-proof management of checklists
Digital checklists can be used in areas such as loading, production, and quality management. During dangerous goods inspections on the road (ADR) or rail (RID), they ensure that all action steps are carried out cleanly and errors are avoided. Digital checklists react dynamically to inputs. Data that is not plausible is presented to the employee for further review. Depending on previously confirmed actions, you can branch to different subsequent processes.

In addition, electronic checklists counter typical "user errors": individual points cannot be skipped or accidentally forgotten. There are no illegible entries as they can occur in handwritten lists. With Checkware, controls can be monitored centrally, and multilingual forms can be evaluated across locations. Signature fields automatically integrate the name of the employee responsible into the log.

Central cross-location checklist management
With Checkware, checklists of all kinds can be electronically created, managed, and made available to authorized employees worldwide in a uniform form. The interactive forms adapt dynamically to the respective mobile devices. Powerful synchronization ensures fast and reliable transmission of results. All changes are continuously updated, and the data is archived in a central, revision-proof database. The data can be exported in various formats for evaluation. A connection to common master data and reporting systems is possible.

Short version

New Solutions has optimized Checkware for use on EX-protected mobile phones and tablets. This means that the checklist software can also be used in hazardous areas in refineries and the chemical industry. Users can fill in and sign their digital checklists quickly and easily with a pointer or a pen.

About New Solutions GmbH

Since its foundation in 1999, New Solutions GmbH has developed into a leading provider of software solutions for the digitization of production-related processes. With the digital shift book "Finito", the company offers a modular, web-based and thus works- and company-wide shift book solution. In addition, the company offers "Checkware", a software solution for electronic checklists and forms. "Synoset", a software for the integrated management of technical assets for medium-sized companies up to large-scale industry, rounds off the solution portfolio. New Solutions also offers maintenance and individual consulting services. In addition to leading companies from various industries (e.g. Total, Lanxess, Evonik or OMV), our long-standing customers also include small and medium-sized companies. 

Contact

New Solutions GmbH
Marktler Str. 61
84489 Burghausen
Tel. +49 (0) 8677 8776-0

Checklist management