CMT Lab Management Software: Your Spring Startup Checklist

Hello, spring...we are back! Real winter is done and spring is in the air. We do have to get over the third "fake spring" first. For you non-Midwesterners, that's when one day is 70F and the next is 28F and snowing, therefore, "fake spring." With that out of the way, spring is coming, clients are starting to call, proposals have been going out all winter, and it is time to go out there and test. Since you follow our blogs, you took advantage of our tips in the Guide for Winter Maintenance. If you implemented those tips, tricks, and recommendations, you are in really good shape to tackle the new season.

Let's make sure everything is ready to go. Planning is the foundation for success, but preparation makes it possible. And for labs running Omnant CMT lab management software, a lot of what used to take hours of manual coordination is already handled. Here is your seasonal checklist to get the rest squared away.

Equipment

Let's start with the existing equipment. Make sure everything is clean and in good working order. Ensure that the "set" is complete. As most of the repairs took place over the winter, restock the spare parts box. Also, take a minute to discard those "maybe we will use it" parts that haven't been used in seven years.

New equipment is always exciting. Make sure new pieces are logged in, identified, and in good working order. To make your life easier, you can add new pieces of equipment directly to Omnant under existing categories. When you assign the new piece of equipment to an existing category, all the maintenance and calibration reminders are automatically established. As part of the Omnant benefits, you can store the owner's manual for every piece of equipment so that anyone using it has quick access to the documentation. Omnant's equipment tracking makes this easy to manage across your entire inventory.

Remember to check the trucks. Vehicles are an important piece of equipment for keeping operations running as they should. Ensure all maintenance and repairs are up to date. Similarly, do not forget "the office stuff." Update computers and tablets with the latest security and operational software, replace damaged or outdated ones, restock all office supplies, and clear out broken chairs and other items that are taking up space without adding value.

Calibrations

This is the most important part after a piece of equipment is repaired, acquired, or otherwise put in service. A piece of equipment that cannot provide accurate results is a liability and mostly useless. In the materials testing world, accuracy matters. Take the time to review the calibration of all field and lab equipment. Calibrations are not complete until the paperwork is updated and properly stored.

Omnant CMT lab management software allows you to maintain an AASHTO R-18 compliant record of all equipment calibrations and repairs. In addition to calibrating and updating records, ensure that the necessary forms are prepared and available for returning technicians. Do not forget about the state. Some state and local DOTs require calibrations to be submitted on a yearly basis. For Omnant users, that is about five clicks. If you are not using CMT lab management software to maximize your time and efficiency when it comes to record keeping, calibration, and laboratory management, you should schedule a demo.

Certifications

Certifications are the recognizable credential of minimum competency to perform a particular test or inspection.

Ensure that everyone's certifications are up to date and identify what new certifications will be needed based on the upcoming workload. Omnant's certification tracking handles this on a rolling basis as automated notifications go out. If you want to see how it works, schedule a demo. We will show you. As we have mentioned before, check everyone's driver's licenses too, just to be sure they are not expired.

Reporting Tips & Reminders

It is always a good practice to refresh the memory of technicians coming back from layoffs or vacations. Reporting is as important as the test itself. Details matter and pictures say more than a thousand words. Remind your field technicians to include as much detail as possible when performing tests or inspections: column lines, site superintendents' complete names, concrete suppliers, pump operators, specific material batch numbers or serials, and so on.

Take pictures and include them in the reports. Omnant gives you the ability to add as many pictures as you need in each report. Having photos in the reports gives clients a better sense of project progress. It is important to note that in some cases, the people reviewing reports do not have a construction background. By including details and pictures, you make the review process easier on their end.

A New Season. A Better Lab.

A new construction season is already here, and we look forward to a very productive, profitable, safe, and successful one. Omnant is here to support the construction inspection and materials testing laboratories that ensure compliance and quality across every project.

This is the season to up your game. Give your clients 24/7 access to field and lab reports from anywhere in the world. Let them request tests and inspections remotely. Bring all your technicians, engineers, and support personnel together under a single schedule. Omnant CMT lab management software makes all of it possible. Schedule your demo today!