5 Ways Digital Forms Simplify ERP Workflows for Trades

5 Ways Digital Forms Simplify ERP Workflows Feature Image

5 Ways Digital Forms Simplify ERP Workflows for Trades

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5 Ways Digital Forms Simplify ERP Workflows Feature Image

When your crews are out in the field, the work they do generates a constant stream of data: job details, timesheets, inspections, materials used, customer approvals, and more. But getting that data back into your ERP workflow often feels like the hardest part of the job. Paper forms pile up, manual data entry eats into productivity, and critical details get lost in the shuffle.

If you’re still relying on manual processes, your ERP workflows are at risk of slowdowns, errors, and miscommunication. Fortunately, digital forms can close the gap between the field and your back office, helping you collect data accurately, reduce manual work, and keep projects moving forward without the usual headaches.

Let’s look at five ways GoCanvas® helps automate workflows for trade businesses, transforming how data flows across your operations.

Field teams need a fast, user-friendly way to capture job information while they’re on site. Digital forms replace paper with mobile tools that allow workers to collect details on their smartphones or tablets. Whether they’re completing safety checklists, capturing customer signatures, or logging equipment usage, the data is collected accurately and sent straight to your ERP system.

This approach helps you:

  • Eliminate the need for manual data entry back at the office.
  • Improve data accuracy by using required fields and logic checks.
  • Reduce errors caused by illegible handwriting or lost paperwork.
  • Improve the overall user experience for field staff.

By digitizing workflow in ERP systems, you’re not just speeding up processes—you’re protecting your business from costly mistakes and delays.

One of the biggest challenges trade businesses face is connecting field data to their ERP systems without extra steps. GoCanvas integrates with ERP systems, such as Sage and Microsoft Dynamics, allowing field data to flow directly into your core business processes without additional steps. Instead of chasing paper or updating spreadsheets, your teams work from the same accurate, real-time information. This improves visibility across your entire business, from project costs to resource planning, and helps protect sensitive information with robust security features.

Many trade businesses deal with repetitive tasks that slow down their operations, such as approvals, document routing, and notifications. GoCanvas lets you build automation into your workflow ERP system, so routine steps happen automatically once a digital form is submitted.

For example:

  • Trigger automatic approvals based on specific conditions.
  • Send notifications to supervisors when inspections are complete.
  • Update CRM or ERP systems in real time.
  • Generate reports for analytics and record-keeping.

Automation significantly reduces manual intervention for faster processing, cuts down on errors, and helps your teams stay focused on higher-value work.

Data collected in the field often includes sensitive information like customer details, safety incident logs, and financial records. Paper-based systems expose this data to unauthorized access or accidental loss.

Digital forms help trade businesses improve security features by:

  • Encrypting data during transfer and storage
  • Controlling user access based on roles and permissions
  • Keeping an audit trail for compliance and inspections
  • Reducing the risk of lost documents or sensitive data leaks

By improving data security and compliance, you protect both your customers and your business while maintaining trust and meeting regulatory requirements.

Without reliable data, it’s hard to see where your business stands or where it’s headed. Paper processes make it nearly impossible to analyze trends, measure productivity, or identify issues before they become bigger problems.

When field data flows directly into your ERP system, you get immediate insights into job costs, resource allocation, and performance across projects. This real-time visibility helps you make informed decisions, optimize scheduling, and improve overall efficiency. It’s a smarter way to run your business and keep projects profitable.

Paper and manual data entry don’t belong in modern trade operations. GoCanvas gives you the tools to improve data accuracy, reduce manual work, and connect your field and back-office teams through seamless ERP workflows.

If you’re ready to eliminate paperwork, enhance security, and keep your business moving at the speed of your projects, see how GoCanvas can help. Request a demo today and explore how digital forms simplify ERP workflow management and keep every part of your business working in sync.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas®, part of the Nemetschek Group, is an all-in-one digital solution that transforms the way businesses connect their office and field teams. Our user-friendly platforms simplify and streamline tasks like scheduling, dispatch, inspections, daily reports, work orders, and invoicing—digitizing paper processes to enhance safety and ensuring maximum compliance with industry standards.

Like a Swiss Army knife for the field, it’s versatile, reliable, and built to handle any task—letting you focus on the work that matters.

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How Digital Forms Help Mid-Market Teams Overcome the Skilled Labor Shortage

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How Digital Forms Help Mid-Market Teams Overcome the Skilled Labor Shortage

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Skilled Labour Shortage Feature Image

As the skilled labor shortage in construction and manufacturing continues to affect industries across the U.S., mid-sized businesses are struggling to adapt. The skilled labor shortage is a growing issue, with 60% of manufacturers identifying it as their top challenge. The skills gap is especially pronounced in industries like construction, where over 382,000 jobs remain open each month. For businesses with limited recruiting resources, leveraging digital tools is crucial to maintaining productivity. In fact, one manufacturer saved $570,000 annually by switching to digital forms, which showcases the impact of digital solutions in overcoming the skilled trades labor shortage.

Skilled labor shortage statistics show that mid-sized teams have been impacted the hardest. With fewer workers entering the skilled trades, companies are left to compete for a shrinking talent pool. Mid-sized companies’ teams often don’t have the extensive resources to implement large-scale recruitment strategies or offer higher wages, putting them at a disadvantage compared to larger organizations.

Key factors contributing to the shortage include:

  • An aging workforce: Many workers are retiring, and younger generations aren’t filling the gap.
  • Fewer new workers entering trades: Skilled trade schools and apprenticeship programs are struggling to attract new talent.
  • Rising demand: As industries like construction continue to grow, the demand for skilled tradespeople is outpacing supply.

With the labor market tightening and unemployment rates dropping, the ability to do more with fewer people is paramount. Mid-sized teams, particularly in advanced manufacturing and construction, are turning to construction management software and workflows to address this challenge. By adopting mobile forms, checklists, and automated workflows, businesses can increase efficiency while maintaining their current workforce.

GoCanvas® offers a solution by streamlining workflows, improving data collection, and automating processes to help these teams operate more efficiently and maximize their existing workforce. With GoCanvas, construction teams can overcome the challenges posed by the skilled labor shortage and stay on top of project deadlines and budget constraints.

Mobile forms and checklists are some of the most effective digital tools for improving efficiency. They streamline workflows, reduce paper waste, and help workers complete tasks faster and more accurately. These tools are particularly useful in industries like construction and manufacturing, where safety, accuracy, and timely completion are critical.

Benefits of mobile forms and checklists include:

  • Easy access to real-time data: Workers can update tasks and log information directly from their mobile devices.
  • Safety and compliance: Digital checklists ensure all safety protocols are followed, reducing risk.
  • Streamlined inspections and reports: Instead of manually filling out forms, workers can complete forms on site and submit them instantly.

Digital tools like checklists help skilled tradespeople stay organized and on top of their tasks, improving productivity and compliance.

The skilled trades have historically struggled to attract younger generations to the workforce. However, digital tools are changing the game. Younger workers who are more accustomed to technology find the integration of mobile apps, digital workflows, and cloud-based systems appealing.

As younger workers’ participation in the labor force increases, technical colleges, training programs, and internships are becoming key sources of new talent. The appeal of digital forms and mobile platforms makes the trades seem less outdated and more aligned with today’s workforce.

Younger generations are increasingly drawn to careers in skilled trades when employers offer opportunities for training, reskilling, and career development through manufacturing management software. The appeal of these roles is heightened when companies provide flexible scheduling and, where possible, remote work options that align with modern-day employees’ work-life balance expectations.

The skills gap is a major barrier to filling job vacancies in the skilled trades. Many businesses are turning to digital tools to help bridge this gap and train workers more efficiently.

Here’s how digital tools make a difference:

  • Online training programs: Workers can access skills training and certifications directly on their mobile devices.
  • Reskilling opportunities: Companies can quickly reskill their current workforce to handle new technology or job requirements.
  • Easier access to training: With mobile apps and cloud-based platforms, employees can complete apprenticeships and other training initiatives on their own time.

By offering digital learning and certification options, companies can ensure their workers are always up to date with safety compliance standards that will help close the skills gap.

In a labor market where job positions remain unfilled, mid-sized teams need to maximize the productivity of their current workforce. One way to do this is to adopt digital workflows. By reducing the administrative burden, digital workflows help workers focus on core tasks rather than time-consuming paperwork.

For instance, a construction company could streamline its project management by using a mobile workflow that integrates tasks such as ordering materials, tracking deliveries, and conducting safety checks. This eliminates manual logging and allows skilled tradespeople to focus on delivering high-quality results on time. Digital analytics tools offer real-time updates, allowing for faster decision-making that is crucial in fast-paced manufacturing environments.

As a result, teams can take on more projects without increasing headcount, which directly impacts the labor force and helps close the gap created by the skilled worker shortage.

The skilled labor shortage is a significant challenge for industries such as construction and manufacturing, but it can be overcome. With digital tools like mobile forms, checklists, and automated workflows, mid-sized businesses can boost efficiency, attract younger workers, and close the skills gap without needing to hire additional staff. Bridge the skilled labor gap and attract new talent by embracing digital transformation. Request a demo today to ensure a steady, productive, and highly skilled workforce for the future.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas®, part of the Nemetschek Group, is an all-in-one digital solution that transforms the way businesses connect their office and field teams. Our user-friendly platforms simplify and streamline tasks like scheduling, dispatch, inspections, daily reports, work orders, and invoicing—digitizing paper processes to enhance safety and ensuring maximum compliance with industry standards.

Like a Swiss Army knife for the field, it’s versatile, reliable, and built to handle any task—letting you focus on the work that matters.

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Find the Right Form Fast: Your Seasonal Template Toolkit for Field Teams

Seasonal Template Toolkit Feature Image

Find the Right Form Fast: Your Seasonal Template Toolkit for Field Teams

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Seasonal Template Toolkit Feature Image

When busy season hits—whether it’s the peak of summer HVAC calls, the start of spring landscaping, or fall construction prep—your team doesn’t have time to search for the right forms. Field teams need tools that work as fast and efficiently as they do. That’s why having a ready-to-go template toolkit can be a game changer.

Instead of building every form from scratch, GoCanvas® gives you access to a powerful library of mobile form templates tailored to field service teams across industries. With options for work orders, inspections, job reports, and more, you can choose a digital form, customize it in minutes, and start using it right away—directly from your mobile device.

Whether you’re managing HVAC repairs, landscaping services, construction projects, or safety compliance, this seasonal guide highlights the essential templates your team needs and when you need them most.

Paper forms are slow. PDFs are clunky. Manually creating forms every time a new job starts? That’s just wasted effort. A well-organized template toolkit not only accelerates field operations but also ensures consistent, accurate, and audit-ready data across all teams.

Templates allow you to:

  • Standardize processes across jobs and crews.
  • Reduce training time for new employees.
  • Eliminate paperwork delays and errors.
  • Access forms anytime, anywhere.
  • Easily search, submit, and track job progress.

Whether you’re looking for a field work order template, a safety checklist, or a work order form template, GoCanvas offers flexible digital options built for real-world conditions.

As the weather warms and projects ramp up, spring is the time for inspections, equipment tune-ups, and compliance updates. Use this season to ensure your documentation is in order before peak volume begins.

Recommended Templates

Each of these can be accessed in our template library and customized to suit your team’s workflow. You can also link data from these forms to your SharePoint or cloud system for centralized tracking.

Summer is go time for many field service industries. Whether you’re responding to urgent HVAC repairs, managing landscaping jobs, or overseeing large construction crews, fast and accurate reporting is critical.

Digital forms ensure that your team doesn’t lose time with paperwork—and that your data is ready for invoicing, review, or compliance checks.

Recommended Templates

All of these templates support real-time updates and can be accessed directly from the GoCanvas mobile forms app on your phone or tablet.

As the season slows, fall is often when teams begin wrapping up long-term projects or preparing documentation for year-end compliance. It’s a prime time to organize records and finalize reports before winter weather hits.

Recommended Templates

  • Site Audit Checklist – Verify final conditions and compliance.
  • Final Jobsite Inspection Report – Document handoffs or completion of work.
  • Field Work Plan Template – Map out tasks and labor for final seasonal jobs.
  • Employee Timesheets – Digitally track hours worked for payroll.
  • Tool Inventory Checklist – Account for all equipment before winter storage.

Digitizing these forms improves accuracy and gives back-office teams faster access to the data they need. It also ensures you’re ready if a regulatory agency comes calling.

In colder months, many outdoor field teams shift gears to focus on internal improvements, equipment storage, and workforce planning for the coming year. Winter is the perfect time to audit your processes and upgrade your systems.

Recommended Templates

  • Annual Safety Review Form – Evaluate safety trends and incidents.
  • Training Completion Forms – Track staff certifications or refresher courses.
  • Field Work Report Template – Analyze end-of-season performance.
  • Digital Adoption Readiness Checklist – Prep teams for new workflows or technology rollouts.
  • Workforce Planning Worksheet – Map staffing needs and project forecasts.

These templates make it easier to reflect on your wins, identify gaps, and get ready for a smoother, more efficient year ahead.

One of the best parts about a digital template toolkit is its flexibility. You can choose forms specific to the type of work your team does—whether that’s in HVAC, landscaping, construction, electrical, or general field service.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how teams across industries use GoCanvas templates:

HVAC Technicians

  • HVAC work order form template
  • Service diagnostics checklist
  • Maintenance logs
  • Job completion reports

Construction Teams

  • Site safety checklists
  • Daily progress logs
  • Field work order template
  • Equipment inspections

Landscaping Crews

  • Seasonal service plans
  • Jobsite check-ins
  • Client approval forms
  • Tool and inventory logs

All of these templates can be accessed from our mobile form apps library and customized in minutes—no coding required.

Once you’ve selected the right templates, GoCanvas lets you build them into automated workflows. For example, submitting a field work report could trigger:

  • A real-time update to your project dashboard
  • An email summary to your client
  • A file upload to SharePoint or Google Drive
  • A follow-up form for quality assurance

Don’t waste time searching your inbox or digging through files for outdated forms. With GoCanvas, your team has instant access to a digital template toolkit that’s organized, mobile-ready, and seasonally smart.

You’ll reduce paperwork, standardize your reporting, and give your crews the tools they need to stay efficient year-round. Request a demo to see how GoCanvas can help you streamline operations, improve accuracy, and simplify compliance.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas®, part of the Nemetschek Group, is an all-in-one digital solution that transforms the way businesses connect their office and field teams. Our user-friendly platforms simplify and streamline tasks like scheduling, dispatch, inspections, daily reports, work orders, and invoicing—digitizing paper processes to enhance safety and ensuring maximum compliance with industry standards.

Like a Swiss Army knife for the field, it’s versatile, reliable, and built to handle any task—letting you focus on the work that matters.

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Inside the GoCanvas Release: CPO Pete Schulz on Quick Start, Follow-Ups, and API Power

Inside the GoCanvas Spring Release: CPO Pete Schulz on Quick Start, Follow-Ups, and API Power

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We’re excited to announce that Pete Schulz, formerly VP of product, has stepped into the role of chief product officer for both GoCanvas and SiteDocs! Pete has been a driving force behind our product innovation for years—and now, as CPO, he’s setting the course for our next big chapter.

In this Q&A, Pete shares his perspective on our latest release—featuring Quick Start, Follow-Ups, and enhanced API capabilities—and how these updates represent just the beginning of new features in our approach to building and managing digital workflows.


Q: First off—congrats on the new role! What does stepping into the CPO position mean for you?

Pete: Thanks! It’s an exciting next step. I’ve been deeply involved with the product side of GoCanvas® for a while, and this new role gives me the opportunity to drive innovation across both GoCanvas and SiteDocs at a broader level. We’re building tools that empower field teams to work smarter and faster—and now I get to help shape that vision more holistically across both platforms. As we mentioned last July, we are now a part of Nemetschek Group, and this will allow us to accelerate innovation. We are also looking forward to integrations with some of our other brands as well. Stay tuned… 


Q: What excites you most about this spring release at GoCanvas?

Pete: This release is a big deal. We are leveraging the power of technology to bring new innovation to market that will make our customers more efficient. With Quick Start, Follow-Ups, and our upgraded API, we’re not just launching features—we’re giving our customers a better way to build, connect, and act on their field data.

Quick Start makes it easier than ever to go digital. Follow-Ups bring accountability and clarity to field issues. Our updated API opens the door to tighter, more flexible integrations. These are the kind of tools that make a real difference in everyday operations.


Q: Let’s talk about Quick Start. What problem is this solving for our users?

Pete: Time. Quick Start helps users create mobile forms in minutes by converting their existing paper forms (or PDFs) into digital forms, while keeping the original layout and branding. That’s huge for companies who want to digitize their processes without starting from scratch. There’s no learning curve, and the familiarity makes adoption easier for teams in the field.


Q: Follow-Ups seem like a powerful tool for managing jobsite issues. How do you see this changing the game for field teams?

Pete: Follow-Ups close the loop between the field and the office. A worker can flag an issue, assign it, and track progress all from one place—while the office gets visibility into what’s happening in real time. It’s a smarter way to manage open tasks, reduce miscommunication, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.


Q: We’ve also made big strides with the GoCanvas API. What’s new here for our more technical users?

Pete: Our new API updates make it easier than ever for developers to build custom integrations that fit their workflows. We’ve improved functionality, added more robust documentation, added oAuth authentication, and provided sample calls to help teams get up and running quickly. Whether you’re pushing data into your ERP, syncing with your CRM, or triggering workflows in a third-party tool, the GoCanvas API now offers more flexibility and control.


Q: Last question—what’s your big goal as CPO for GoCanvas and SiteDocs?

Pete: My goal is simple: Build tools that make a real impact for the people who use them. Whether that’s saving time, preventing errors, working safer, or getting paid faster, I want our customers to feel like GoCanvas and SiteDocs are helping them run a smoother, smarter business. That’s what drives everything we’re building.



With Pete stepping into his new role and our spring release officially live, the future of GoCanvas is looking bright. Dive into Quick Start, Follow-Ups, and our upgraded API today.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas®, part of the Nemetschek Group, is an all-in-one digital solution that transforms the way businesses connect their office and field teams. Our user-friendly platforms simplify and streamline tasks like scheduling, dispatch, inspections, daily reports, work orders, and invoicing—digitizing paper processes to enhance safety and ensuring maximum compliance with industry standards.

Like a Swiss Army knife for the field, it’s versatile, reliable, and built to handle any task—letting you focus on the work that matters.

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Best Ways to Collect Data in Manufacturing

manufatcuring plant worker using tablet

Best Ways to Collect Data in Manufacturing

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Data analysis is the heart of any well-functioning manufacturing company. Without accurate, real-time data, manufacturing plants are left in the dark about costs, areas that need improvements, quality assurance, employee production, and so many other valuable insights. 

With that in mind, the question is, “What is the best way to collect data in manufacturing?” The answer to that question depends on several factors, including facility size, the type of products manufactured, and resources. 

You can collect data via observation, surveys, end-of-month reports, etc. However, most Lean Six Sigma and Kaizen experts would agree that some form of real-time digital data collection is the best method. 

Continue reading to learn more about the best ways to collect data at your manufacturing plant and how GoCanvas can help. 

Modern-day manufacturing involves a lot of machinery, software, calculations, and people. Depending on the type of facility, manufacturers can collect data in various ways, including but not limited to: 

  • IoT sensor integration. 
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA).
  • Radiofrequency identification (RFID).
  • Machine integration. 
  • Paper forms.
  • Observations.
  • Surveys.
  • Document review (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.)
  • Microsoft Excel and other types of spreadsheets.
  • Manufacturing form apps.

While it is essential to collect data, the method of data collection is just as important. In the next section, learn why real-time manufacturing data is beneficial for all manufacturing plants regardless of size. 

If a manufacturer wants to compete in a highly competitive space, they’ll need to improve operations to make it as lean as possible. That means making a product faster, better, less expensive, and more efficient than competitors. 

Collecting data insights from the plant floor can improve your business in the following ways: 

  • Better cross-department communication.
  • Helps implement lean processes and reduce waste.
  • Enhanced decision-making.
  • Optimized manufacturing processes.
  • Elimination of paper trails.
  • Reduced inaccuracies in data collection. 
  • Faster response time to issues.
  • And more.

Suppose your company uses a manufacturing mobile app for quality control and quality assurance. In that case, you can calculate errors committed per day,  the time it takes the average worker to complete a task, material costs, etc. 

Your team can leverage this data to continually improve your manufacturing process until your plant behaves like a well-oiled machine. Additionally, you can use data insights gained from manufacturer apps to: 

  • Improve safety.
  • Streamline productions efforts. 
  • Schedule employees at the right time. 
  • Identify trends and problem areas. 
  • Better understand training needs .
  • Identify, assess, and overcome challenges that hinder growth. 
  • Save time and money.

Learn how GoCanvas has helped thousands of companies streamline their processes and improve the bottom line in the next section. 

Collecting data on paper forms or relying on observations to improve your manufacturing process can lead to unfavorable results. In competitive markets, the more data collection redundancies you have, the more time and information you lose. 

Our manufacturing form apps include countless templates to help streamline your data collection efforts and continuously improve operations. GoCanvas manufacturing templates are customizable, dynamic and help employees submit accurate data in real-time.  

You can use our manufacturing data collection apps to organize work orders, manage doc records, improve floor safety, and more. Browse our vast selection of manufacturing templates and make them your own. Try our manufacturing apps today for free – no credit card required.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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Improving Your Manufacturing Workflow With Apps

manufacturing worker improving workflows with apps

Improving Your Manufacturing Workflow With Apps

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Have you ever wondered how manufacturing companies like Nvidia, SpaceX, Tesla, Intel, and Nike remain at the forefront of their industries? Two words: manufacturing workflows. 

These companies obsess over optimizing their manufacturing process. To create and maintain a near-flawless workflow, they collect a lot of data, analyze it, make improvements, and repeat the process over and over. 

If you want your manufacturing business to reach its full potential, one of the best places to start is by implementing apps to improve your manufacturing workflows. Continue reading to learn how. 

A manufacturing workflow essentially details the step-by-step process required to create a product from start to finish. The workflow process begins when the plant receives raw materials and ends when the products are finished. A manufacturing workflow produces a repeatable process, producing consistent and high-quality end products when done correctly. 

When a manufacturer monitors workflows, collects real-time data, and makes improvements based on their findings, they can reduce bottlenecks at an incredible pace. If you don’t monitor and continuously improve your workflows, you risk losing time, purchase orders, and damaging your company’s reputation due to bottlenecks in the production process. With that in mind, a few benefits of improving manufacturing processes include: 

  • Reduced incidence errors.
  • Improved data sharing.
  • Higher quality of products.
  • Reduced downtime.
  • More efficient employees.
  • Decreased manufacturing costs.
  • Higher rates of compliance.

An optimized workflow makes for happier employees, customers, and business owners. In the section below, learn how a manufacturing app can help automate your processes and save time. 

Tools like Microsoft Dynamics, Salesforce, and GoCanvas can help to improve workflow. However, you’ll still need to take a few additional steps to instill a strong culture of continuous improvement. 

Before using production workflow software, you should ensure that you set your factory and employees up for success by taking the following steps: 

  • Have the right tools and machinery.
  • Organize your tools and machinery in an efficient manner.
  • Keep your production equipment in top shape.
  • Brainstorm with management and employees to create streamlined processes.
  • Provide employees with adequate and regular training. 
  • Encourage open communication about production line issues and hidden bottlenecks. 

Once you’ve fully committed to the process of workflow management and optimization, you’ll be ready to introduce powerful workflow automation tools and manufacturing apps to take your process improvements to the next level. 

GoCanvas’ Manufacturing and Workflow apps help to save you time, money, and a lot of unnecessary headaches. The GoCanvas selection of manufacturing form apps includes templates for manufacturing inspection reviews, work schedule templates, daily production reports, production process documents and so much more. 

Additionally, the GoCanvas Workflow app allows for: 

  • Real-time approvals.
  • Cross department and inner-team collaborations.
  • Powerful automation and access controls.

Are you ready to optimize your manufacturing facility’s workflows? Try GoCanvas For Free – No Credit Card Required.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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Wastewater Processing: 8 Tips to Make Your Manufacturing Site More Sustainable

woman processing wastewater

Wastewater Processing: 8 Tips to Make Your Manufacturing Site More Sustainable

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When it comes to wastewater disposal, manufacturers can place a significant strain on municipal water systems. The lack of proper waste management leads to sanitary waste, particularly in metropolitan areas’ water supply. This has catastrophic effects on people’s sense of health, education, and economic growth. In fact, we can trace recent cholera outbreaks mainly to the widespread use of improper wastewater processing, including poorly constructed wastewater management facilities that can leach their contents into surrounding soil and informal pit emptiers that dump sanitation waste into open drains and the local water supply.

This helpful guide discusses how manufacturers can enhance their wastewater processing to make them more environmentally sustainable.

Equipment should undergo frequent checks to assess its current state, performance, and remaining usable life at a given facility. Older machines are less productive, more expensive to maintain, and thirstier for power than their modern counterparts. 

Eliminating potentially dangerous chlorine disinfection systems is a crucial safety advantage of ultraviolet (UV) disinfection systems, while the systems’ low energy consumption is a welcome side effect. In place of chlorine, you can utilize a UV light disinfection system. This eliminates the need for expensive and sometimes dangerous chemicals. 

Electrocoagulation is a sustainable alternative to chemical coagulation, in which chemicals are introduced to the effluent to induce solid particles to agglomerate and sink to the bottom of a clarity tank. Apart from adjusting the pH, electrocoagulation does not require chemical additions. In contrast to chemical coagulation, which produces an abundance of potentially harmful sludge, electrocoagulation leads to less sludge that poses no danger. In fact, you can dewater this sludge without much effort. As an alternative to disposal, you can sell the dewatered sludge to agricultural businesses which they can use as a soil additive with organic fertilizers.

Anaerobic digesters are another wastewater processing technique that converts wastewater into renewable energy. The methane that an anaerobic digester produces can generate electricity for the wastewater facility at a much-reduced cost. As a result of the total reduction in energy expenditures, the facility can become more self-sufficient.

The most effective way to achieve energy goals and uncover new avenues for efficiency is to educate treatment system operators on the connection between facility operations and energy efficiency. Operators will more likely recommend and adopt efficiency changes after asking for their views. Because they interact with the facility’s processes on a daily basis across all departments, staff members have unique perspectives to bring to the table.

Adding dissolved oxygen control systems and variable frequency drives in blowers and other parts of the air distribution system can reduce the power that blowers use while improving aeration. Around 50% of an activated sludge wastewater treatment facility’s energy goes toward powering the aeration system.

Suppose your current blowers are on the brink of breakdown. In that case, you may consider upgrading to a single high-efficiency turbo blower that you can adjust according to the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water. Is your diffuser system getting on in years? Upgrading to fine-pore or ultra-fine-pore diffusers on the grid can boost oxygen transfer efficiency and reduce treatment air requirements.

By replacing outdated pumps with newer ones, you can save on both operation and upkeep over time. You can match pump speeds to flow rates to further reduce energy consumption using inexpensive and more reliable variable frequency drives. Wastewater treatment facilities typically feel obliged to pump water at rates corresponding to fresh wastewater’s arrival to minimize the need for storing water. In this situation, it is necessary to regulate the flow rate of the pumps.

It is important to keep in mind that not all approaches to flow management are created equal. Throttling valves, for instance, are often employed for flow control, as they create energy losses in the pipeline.

You can control water flow with little energy loss by installing a variable frequency drive (VFD) that rotates the pump’s shaft at the same speed as the water’s desired delivery rate. There will be some heat loss from using VFDs. The pump will also need to function effectively across the working range.

Are you wondering whether your system may need some tweaks and which solution would be appropriate for your facility? You can conduct an analysis to determine whether implementing a potential solution will provide desirable results. Note that pumps may waste energy if they aren’t working within their optimum parameters.

Plants need phosphorus, which is a vital part of fertilizers. If your facility is using or considering biological phosphorus removal, you may want to look into the potential for making a high-quality commercial fertilizer. Lowering phosphorus loading in the recycling streams can enhance the plant’s sidestream performance and the utility gains a new income stream at no additional cost to operations.

As environmental consciousness rises and regulatory oversight tightens, the efficacy of specific traditional wastewater treatment methods is being called into doubt. Since current wastewater processing methods are inadequate, AGTs are being researched, evaluated, and used as eco-friendly replacements.

Bioreactors are the backbone of the most widespread advanced technology used for wastewater treatment. Bioreactors populated with sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) can recover precious metal sulfides by precipitating them as insoluble solids from metal-containing wastewater.

When you rely on informal checklists and training, you leave yourself open to oversights that may prove costly. GoCanvas can create official records of your business’s safety and compliance programs, standard operating procedures (SOPs), audit and authentication services, and security protocols.

GoCanvas believes data is too valuable to sit in storage. We can help in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of your wastewater treatment so that you can return to doing what you do best. Our clients come first, and we provide high-quality customer service that will help make your manufacturing site more sustainable. Please don’t hesitate to contact us right away to request a demo and learn more about wastewater processing.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

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4 Steps Every Manufacturer Should Take On the Journey to ISO 9001 Certification

Construction manager on his tablet at his jobsite.

4 Steps Every Manufacturer Should Take On the Journey to ISO 9001 Certification

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For manufacturers, being ISO 9001-certified is a great milestone in a rather competitive business world. In addition to helping manufacturers retain customers, ISO 9001 certification plays a vital role in winning more clients. Not only does the certification improve a manufacturer’s ranking, but it also serves to create trust in most clients, as the process is based on gauging the manufacturer’s level of customer focus and ability to continuously improve products. As a manufacturer, ISO certification is a measure of your worth in your area of specialization.

So, what is ISO 9001 certification, and what does the process look like for manufacturers? If you are wondering what you need to do to obtain the certification, this guide is for you. Read on to learn more.

This international standard is used to measure an organization’s ability to offer satisfactory products and services. Published in 1987 by the International Organization for Standardization, ISO 19001 sets the requirements for a quality management system (QMS) that acts as an organization’s measure of product suitability across the world.

As a manufacturer, you need to prove that your products or services meet set standards. ISO 9001:2015 is available for use by organizations in any field, whether large or small. 

Organizations that are ISO-certified enjoy numerous benefits, including:

  • The ability to continually improve their products or services to meet customer expectations 
  • Enhanced performance due to improved efficiency in various processes 
  • Organized processes that make operations easy and effective 
  • Consistency, especially in repetitive tasks
  • Improved productivity that helps increases profit 
  • The ability to win new customers while also being able to retain existing ones 
  • The ability to identify areas of weakness and address existing gaps

Through the implementation of the ISO 9001 QMS, you can identify gaps in your processes. This will help you install and maintain measures that boost your business productivity while saving time and resources. You also get to engage your employees in a manner that will help you improve productivity.

As a manufacturer, getting ISO certification helps open new doors for your business growth. Besides getting a QMS that is ISO-compliant, you will need to involve experts who will verify that the system is functional. You also need to set up an external audit to ensure that your system employs the best practices based on the nature of the industry. 

While this may sound like an overwhelming task, the process is rather straightforward. If you need to get certified, you can use any of the following methods:

You can get certified in-house if you own a small company and need a cost-effective way of acquiring ISO certification. With the help of a DIY kit that offers guidelines on how to get certified even without prior knowledge, your employees can complete the setup and have the company certified within three to six months. The toolkit is efficient and eliminates bureaucracy, making the process almost hassle-free. 

If you need to get the job done within the shortest time possible, you can choose to outsource the service to a reputable company. At GoCanvas, we offer reliable services that not only help increase business efficiency and productivity but also let you get certified pretty fast. While you cannot incorporate your staff into the process, our team has the technical know-how and experience required to help your company get certified and improve its efficiency. 

Combining the DIY method with outsourcing to experts can be an ideal solution that will still be cost-effective. While you may want to participate in some elements of the process, you can hire specialists to help you with specific aspects.

You can approach a consultancy firm and discuss the specific roles you want your in-house team to play, then leave the rest to a team of experts. Combining the two approaches helps you allocate more technical and time-consuming areas to experts while your staff gets to concentrate on other equally important elements.

If your time is limited, you can get a comprehensive guide that will help you achieve your goal within a stipulated timeframe. Additionally, this approach helps you get the most out of the system. For instance, a consultancy firm can perform a comprehensive review of your processes and identify any risks and improvement opportunities to help your company become more competitive. 

Although ISO certification is industry-specific, there are general requirements that any industry should comply with. They include: 

  • Documented information for the QMS
  • Managerial responsibilities 
  • Information on resource management 
  • Product realization strategy 
  • Internal audits 
  • Counteractive and preventive actions to help identify risks and opportunities for growth

QMSs use evidence-based decision-making strategies to help achieve a flawless process. 

To get started, you need to obtain a copy of ISO 9001:2015. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get ISO certification:

Prepare relevant documentation to help define the QMS. You need to contact an ISO 9001 management representative and get sufficient training on certification standards as well as managing the system once it’s verified and implemented.  

This step involves letting employees adapt to a new way of doing things. You may also incorporate a management review that helps establish the QMS. This works best when the system is user-friendly and non-bureaucratic.

Completing an internal audit helps verify that the QMS meets all the specifications and standards for ISO. You can have your in-house team perform the audit or use management software to make the process less tedious. Such software also helps you maintain quality in addition to ensuring that you meet the ISO requirements and are in compliance. 

Your manufacturing company may require an audit from an independent third party that follows a full internal audit and provides reliable records to help verify the effectiveness of your QMS. 

Your company may also require follow-ups to countercheck and correct any issues that may arise along the way. Keep in mind that you will need to formulate an improvement plan to help effectively manage your QMS once implemented. 

At GoCanvas, we understand how important ISO 9001 certification is to your manufacturing business. That’s why we offer resources and services that will help you improve productivity and make your business more profitable. For more information, get in touch with our team of tech professionals and schedule a demo so we can discuss your unique business needs. 

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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8 Ways Digitizing Your Manufacturing Equipment Maintenance Checklist With a Template Can Save Time

8 Ways Digitizing Your Manufacturing Equipment Maintenance Checklist With a Template Can Save Time

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Many businesses still rely on paper-based checklists to complete equipment maintenance and other tasks in their facilities. However, this outdated format severely limits efficiency and quality across all tasks. If you want to ensure your teams effectively complete all tasks the right way and on time, there are certain advantages of using a digital manufacturing equipment maintenance checklist to replace your paperwork.

Today, around 89% of companies have prioritized digital transformation to improve the efficiency of operations and reap its other benefits. Converting to digital checklists is a great way to facilitate this transformation.

The following are some of the principal advantages of switching to digital manufacturing equipment maintenance checklists.

One way you can save time on equipment maintenance with digital checklists is by ensuring teams complete all required tasks as needed. You can easily share your checklist with the designated maintenance staff and include all necessary items and details in a centralized, easily modified checklist, which will enable maintenance teams to access these checklists conveniently on mobile devices while in the field and see each task through to its completion. Team members can then make updates to the checklist accordingly and send it back to superiors for confirmation and approval.

Maintenance crews can also benefit from visuals uploaded to a manufacturing equipment maintenance checklist, including diagrams or photographs of inspected equipment and worn or damaged components. These images will go a long way in further increasing the efficiency of maintenance tasks. This can also help eliminate any potential confusion when field workers begin preventative maintenance, repairs, or replacements. 

In addition to helping maintenance staff complete their designated tasks, digital checklists help inspectors and managers with streamlined processes.

Inspectors won’t need to devote as much of their time to administrative tasks. This allows them to collect meaningful data in the field with ease. Using digital forms also improves standardization capabilities, allowing users to easily submit accurate information using a combination of drop-down menus and form fields. All data also appears in comprehensible fonts, eliminating the risk of illegible handwriting causing confusion among teams and staff members.

Managers also benefit from these checklists through the increased ease of scheduling inspections and assigning checklists. Management staff can send reminders to complete inspections as needed and work together with teams using cloud-based solutions.

If you can more effectively address maintenance issues with comprehensive and accurate digital checklists, you can ultimately minimize potential breakdowns and costly downtime. In turn, this will enable you to significantly boost productivity as you keep your operations up and running more consistently. Maintenance teams will be more proactive in handling maintenance issues as they arise and ensuring all maintenance tasks are completed properly the first time. This, in turn, reduces the risk of delayed or faulty maintenance.

Increased productivity also comes from the elimination of manual tasks through increased automation. Teams and staff won’t need to spend as much of their time completing and submitting paperwork when they can do so instantly using digital forms.

Another advantage of a digital manufacturing equipment maintenance checklist is the ability to efficiently manage and centralize your internal audits. As you incorporate changes to equipment, facilities, and operations, you can easily make universal updates to your auditing procedure and protocols that will reflect across the entire system. Additionally, you can automate the reporting process and keep teams up to date on a regular basis with every audit.

You can integrate your digital manufacturing equipment maintenance checklist into an inventory management system that helps you manage spare parts. When you’re able to determine what you have and don’t have, you can ensure you’re fully stocked with the parts you need for each critical piece of equipment. This way, you’ll always have what you require to help prevent equipment breakdowns before you can obtain the necessary parts. 

As inspectors, managers, maintenance crews, and others complete various tasks, they can update their statuses and notify the next person down the line. In the process, your business can track all activities from initial inspections and scheduling of maintenance to the completion of each maintenance task. As a result, nobody will be in the dark about which step in the maintenance process requires completion. You’ll ensure that every activity is on track and hold the assignees of each task accountable for completing it properly and in a timely fashion.

Once you’ve streamlined the maintenance process, you can save reusable templates in the most efficient format to make future inspections and repairs easier to complete. As operations go through various changes and updates, you can update corresponding aspects of your templates. In the end, this will save you save more time and optimize recordkeeping. 

Using cloud-based software and forms, any changes that people make will automatically update in real time. This helps in keeping all people with access to these forms up to date with the latest information. In fact, you’ll no longer need to have individuals make manual updates to reflect changes across all forms. This maximizes the efficiency and accuracy of information for everyone with access. At the same time, you can keep all forms consistently secure on these digital platforms, preventing unauthorized parties from accessing the forms or making unaccountable changes.

Digital checklists are essential for maintaining efficient and cost-effective operations for various reasons, including those listed above. Ultimately, the right digital forms will help you save more time and effort. This will enable you to maximize productivity among all teams and operations. The key is to find the ideal tools to help you simplify manufacturing equipment maintenance in your facilities. With the help of GoCanvas digital forms and mobile apps, you can simplify the maintenance process and streamline all activities. Discover how GoCanvas can transform maintenance and other tasks by requesting a demo or free trial today.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

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7 Biggest SDS Compliance Violations in Chemical Manufacturing (And How to Reduce the Risk)

manufatcuring plant worker using tablet

7 Biggest SDS Compliance Violations in Chemical Manufacturing (And How to Reduce the Risk)

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Not complying with the safety data sheet (SDS) regulations can cost chemical manufacturers in terms of fines, customers, and reputation. Knowing and avoiding the biggest SDS compliance violations is one of the best ways to follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations

This article reveals the top seven SDS compliance violations to give you the best chance of preventing legal issues and protecting your brand image. And because meeting every requirement can be challenging for many chemical manufacturers, we will show you where to get a comprehensive SDS-compliant checklist to make things easy. 

OSHA requires distributors and manufacturers to provide an SDS for each hazardous chemical. As the bare minimum, the SDS should use a clear, user-friendly, 16-section format to inform downstream users about the substance. 

Each section should provide specific minimum information detailed in the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). The information must be in English, although copies in other languages can be provided if necessary. 

In 2011, OSHA penalized two manufacturers and two distributors of hair products for failing to inform users of the substance’s potential hazards and protect their employees from exposure. In fact, the total fine for the four companies totaled $49,200. 

Manufacturers are responsible for evaluating the risks related to a particular chemical and including the hazards in an SDS. Concerning communication of chemical hazards, the sheet should: 

  • Specify the concentration (exact percentages)—sometimes, concentration ranges may be used to protect trade secrets
  • Explain why the substance is hazardous
  • Indicate the chemical’s possible harm
  • List protective measures users should follow
  • Describe what users should do in an emergency

Having a static SDS may not always be enough to meet OSHA requirements, resulting in SDS compliance violations. In some instances, updates are necessary—and they must be made within a particular period to avoid noncompliance. 

According to OSHA, chemical manufacturers must ensure SDS information accurately details hazards and how to protect against them. But when your company discovers new potential harm of a particular chemical or identifies more effective ways to avoid the risks, the new details should be added to the SDS within three months

On the other hand, the chemical labels must be revised within six months, depending on the significance of the new information. In short, your company needs to update its SDSs in one or all of the circumstances below: 

  • The manufacturer makes significant changes to the chemical compound.
  • Research reveals considerable new information about a chemical’s potential harm or anti-hazard measures.

Improper handling and storage can cause toxic exposures, explosions, as well as fires from chemical reactions. That’s why OSHA requires manufacturers to include a safe handling and storage section in the SDS. 

Required information includes: 

Every employer must have a readily accessible SDS for employees in the workplace. To ensure chemical safety, information about the identities, as well as potential dangers of chemicals, must be readily available and understandable to workers. 

Manufacturers are also responsible for classifying chemical hazards and transmitting the information to employers through data sheets. An SDS must be provided in the initial shipment as well as the first shipment after a sheet update. Additionally, chemical manufacturers must provide the document to employers or distributors upon request. 

OSHA laws require SDSs to reveal a chemical’s ingredients. The required information includes the following: 

  • Chemical name, common name, and synonyms
  • Stabilizing additives and impurities
  • The exact percentage of each ingredient that is considered a health hazard
  • Whether these ingredients are present above their concentration limits
  • Whether the ingredients are present below concentration limits but are still a health risk

Your company can use concentration ranges if specifying the exact percentage exposes trade secrets. In that case, you must also include a statement indicating that the exact chemical concentration has been withheld. 

In addition to ingredient information, OSHA calls for the minimum information about the physical and chemical properties required in the SDS compliance checklist: 

  • Chemical appearance and odor
  • Freezing and melting point
  • Evaporation rate
  • Viscosity
  • Solubility
  • Boiling point and range
  • Flammability and pH
  • Vapor pressure and density
  • Explosive limits
  • Partition coefficient

You don’t need to include everything on the above list if a physical or chemical property doesn’t apply to your products. However, you need to ensure every property relevant to your company’s chemicals is sufficiently detailed in the SDS. You should also include other relevant properties not indicated on the list above.  

Not including exposure limits in your SDS can also result in expensive noncompliance penalties. An exposure control section in the sheet helps recommend personal protective measures and minimize user exposure to chemicals. Essential details to cover in this section include: 

  • Exposure limits from regulatory bodies, such as OSHA and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
  • Your recommended exposure limit as the chemical manufacturer
  • The necessary engineering controls
  • Advice for personal protective measures to prevent exposure to chemicals
  • Recommended personal protective equipment (PPE)

Manufacturers are required to obtain or create an SDS for every chemical they produce. Additionally, they must ensure a copy of that sheet is available for customers. 

The SDS compliance checklist form from GoCanvas is easily accessible from a smartphone or tablet. This also makes it easier for employers and employees to access safety data and handle chemical inventory appropriately. 

Because the checklist comes as an SDS-compliant template, you don’t have to create the sheet from scratch, which saves you money and time. In fact, once you create the document, it becomes mobile-accessible via smartphones and tablets to easily empower employers to create a hazard management program and enhance occupational safety. Request a demo today to see how our SDS compliance template helps you save time and money.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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