Changes to chemical inventory system imminent

Laboratory chemical users should expect changes in the system that tracks chemical inventories as well as in procedures for chemical purchasing.

The Laboratory’s Automated Chemical Inventory System will be modernized and modified, thanks to a team of Laboratory chemical users and industrial hygienists who identified specifications for a new software package, said Bill Hargraves of Industrial Hygiene and Safety (HSR-5). At the end of the month an updated Automated Chemical Inventory System, based on software by Efficient Enterprise Engineering of Tempe, Ariz., will become operational at the Laboratory. The new system will be fully functional by August, at which time the current ACIS will be retired.

The nearly 1,200 Laboratory chemical owners will need to take a short on-line training program in order to use the new system.

“The new system does have new features that we think make it more useful to chemical owners and to Laboratory managers,” said Hargraves. “The on-line training module will only take a short time to complete and will be available on the Web later this week. Anyone who is a chemical owner who uses ACIS now or will be using ACIS in the future need to complete the training.”

The updated system can more easily update chemical usage and therefore will help provide more accurate results during end-of-year audits. But for chemical owners, perhaps the most noticeable change will be a new purchase method that creates a single point of ordering and receiving. Chemical owners will not experience changes in chemical availability or the ability to obtain third-party chemicals from other suppliers as a result of the new system, Hargraves said.

Under the new system, Fisher Scientific will be the sole agent for Laboratory chemical supplies. Chemicals no longer will be purchased from other companies by use of purchase orders, and, unlike the current system, buyers in the Business Operations (BUS) Division no longer will purchase chemicals. The changes will help streamline documentation of chemicals in use at the Laboratory — improving safety, security and accounting of these materials.

Chemical users will be able to purchase their chemicals directly from Fisher Scientific through the company’s Web site, or by contacting the company by telephone or in person at the company’s warehouse location at Technical Area 3. Once the new system goes into effect, Fisher Scientific will order all chemicals, even chemicals that previously came from third-party suppliers.

The updated system also will allow chemical owners to track and modify chemical inventory statistics using Personal Data Assistant devices. Chemical owners will be able to use PDAs to scan bar codes and easily update inventory information, Hargraves said.

Those with questions about the new system should contact Hargraves at 7-7807 or write to billh@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

-- James Rickman

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