Labconco Corporation was founded in 1925 by Ralph Callaway and Phil Goldfisch, whose first product was a Kjeldahl Nitrogen Determination Apparatus for agricultural labs to test the protein content of feeds and grains. Since those early days, Labconco has grown to employ over 200 associates at three facility locations, and the company manufactures and sells 16 different product lines through a global network of distributors. Moreover, Labconco offers services, too, at three state-of-the-art facilities in Kansas City: The Auditorium demonstrates Labconco equipment for training and sales purposes; the Demonstration Lab develops tests and methods for the equipment; the Airflow Test Laboratory tests new fume hoods and biological safety cabinets under realistic operating constraints.  

Such diversification requires a solid information system to receive, store and distribute the many documents that enable Labconco to operate so successfully. Specifically, Customer Service Representatives, Product Specialists, Product Service Representatives, On-Line Technical Support Personnel, and Administrative Staff need to create, file, distribute and retrieve MSDS, brochures, invoices, order acknowledgements, architect specifications, manuals and many other types of document.

Larry Schoeneberg, Labconco Controller, says that prior to 1999 all company information was generated by an IBM AS 400 system, and all reports and forms were filed or stored manually. "For example, invoices were generated on four part forms, manually broken down, then mailed to customers, with a copy filed in Accounting and Customer Service, respectively. We had to file these invoices and keep [them] several years in storage." Unfortunately, this method led to several inefficiencies: "Any time you have hard copies of reports or filed information, you will have inefficiencies because paperwork can get lost or filed incorrectly. Also, managers or other personnel have to get their hands on the information, so several copies of the reports are generated, or they have to…[determine] where the reports are filed, then be able to find them. This is time-consuming…[and] very inefficient." Clearly, Labconco needed an information storage and retrieval system to keep pace with its many sales and diverse industrial activities, and step one was to prioritize needs.

Schoeneberg says the primary goals of a new information system were that it must reduce [administrative] cost, improve internal efficiencies, reduce filing/retrieval time, eliminate duplicate work, better serve customers and be easy to use.

In 1999, Labconco contracted with Delta Systems to implement its "DataStore for Windows" Computer Output to Laser Disk or COLD software in the Accounting Department. This program converts AS/400 created reports and documents into compatible file formats, which are compressed and sent to a designated server. Filing information is then extracted during the process and indexed so reports, documents and invoices may be recalled from any workstation in seconds by way of a search function.

So what did this change mean for Labconco? It meant that the company was able to meet all its information system goals. Implemented primarily in Accounting, DataStore COLD enabled "faster retrieval of information, reduced paper and storage costs, reduced paperwork and filing time [and therefore] more efficient use of personnel time, and broader access to information by all departments within Labconco" says Schoeneberg.

Some additional benefits have been reduced printer time, fewer customer call backs and less ‘telephone tag’ associated with the old method of information retrieval. Of course, to get a true sense of the worth of a program, it is always wise to go grass roots and ask the users. In this case, associates who use the DataStore COLD are very complimentary, particularly with respect to its ease of use and ability to enable fast retrieval of information. Users find documents are readily available, and historical information is now much easier to retrieve and compare with current information. The folks at Labconco say that the DataStore COLD fulfilled their expectations, and they are now considering the DeltaDOCK imaging system.

This ISO 9000 company depends on many departments and personnel to sustain its reputation of offering quality lab products and robust customer service. In turn, these departments and personnel depend on the DataStore COLD System to deliver the right information to the right people at the right time.

Delta Systems, Inc. (DSI), was founded in 1989, being the first company in Kansas City to focus solely on the industry of document imaging and management. By specializing in one market, DSI has worked hard to be the best provider of imaging software.

14 years later, DSI continues to provide and implement solutions for the storage and retrieval of documents in a variety of industries. DSI's business philosophy is to provide quality products and ongoing technical support, and this has resulted in many satisfied customers. DSI is pledged to fulfilling your document imaging needs no matter what business you're in.

Delta Systems engineers it’s own suite of products, while maintaining relationships with other quality providers of complimentary solutions.

DataStore for Windows COLD is from Hitec Laboratories Ltd. - the leading international developer of COLD, E R M solutions. DataStore for Windows COLD solution is distributed by Hitec Integration, Inc., Burnsville, MN.