There are all sorts of inspection software solutions out there. Some are designed for food safety inspections, others for resource scheduling optimisation, etc. A typical work process for all inspection models is the checklist data gathering. When we say inspector, we always imagine someone with a list of paper and pen in his hand or with a tablet and stylus. The inspector gathers data and uses checklists to do that effectively.
What’s the role of a checklist in inspections?
The checklists are just an ordinary list of tasks that may be specific for each inspection field. They are a tool that prevents inspectors from missing an essential check during the inspection. That’s why achieving optimal use of an inspection checklist is a constant work in progress that must be updated now and then.
CASE STUDY: How a regulatory agency cut costs with resource scheduling software?
- reducing the scheduling time with up to 75%
- increasing efficiency of operations with 40%
- fully eliminating errors in the resource allocation process.
Download the case study.
One of the most advertised benefits of using inspection software is the improved productivity that saves inspectors’ time. The time-saving benefit brought by digital checklists is mainly a result of streamlining the data gathering during inspections and automating the preparation of reports. Using a cloud-based inspection scheduling software doesn’t fit a pen and paper checklist. That’s why good inspection management software needs a well-thought checklist functionality. So what should we require from an inspection checklist perspective when researching different inspection management tools?
Related: What’s the benefit of route optimisation in inspections?
What are the benefits of inspection checklists?
- Checklists improve safety
The use of relevant and detailed checklists in inspection management is crucial to ensuring safety. That’s why checklists must be easy to create, edit and save for future use. It means that inspectors have to be able to develop and work with different checklists – one that serves the daily inspections, the other that does more critical assessments, etc. When the checklists are pre-defined, inspectors can quickly load the checklist template they need on their devices and conduct their inspections without missing something important that may lead to big mistakes.
- Improved communication between departments in regulatory agencies and enterprises
Inspection data is a constant subject to analysis. The old-fashioned way of going through data is to dig into a bunch of paper and move folders with documents across halls and floors. However, if a cloud-based inspection management system ensures the digital processing of data gathering, then the analysis of inspection data would be far easier to do or send for review by inspection directors, analysts, or some other government agency.
- The completed checklist is automatically uploaded and stored in the cloud.
That gives flexibility to everyone in the inspection management process, and things happen faster. Inspectors can also attach photos or pdf files to the inspection data. That way, everything will be in one folder and stored digitally. A digital inspection management solution with a sound document management system solves many problems for the inspectors who are still using the pen and paper method for conducting inspections. This problem-solving feature can be tested early through proof of concept.
Related: Why and how should we test a proof of concept of inspection management software?
- Inspection checklists can be reused, and their data saved
Inspectors can reuse the last used inspection checklist, so there’s no need to make a new checklist every time before the inspection. The data from digital inspection checklists can be combined with other data and used to visualise trends or just inform the higher management about the big picture.
- No paper means more security and more access.
To top all of the benefits, comes the green promise for using less papers and utilising resources with more care to the nature. This is one of the values that stays behind our inspection management solution – Canalix.
Checklists remind us of the minimum necessary steps and make them explicit. They not only offer the possibility of verification but also instill a kind of discipline of higher performance.
– The Checklist Manifesto, Atul Gawande
Automation is the primary tool that we use to increase efficiency. Automating inspection checklists is an example of how everyone in the inspection management process can save valuable time spent searching for information, making reports, planning and scheduling inspections. All these time-consuming tasks can be reduced to just a few clicks with the mouse. But to work, checklists must be well thought out in the research and buying phase.
Do you want to learn more about the benefits of using configurable checklists in digital inspections? Contact us here.
