GrowerIQ's Cannabis QMS Software and Software Validation for Cannabis Compliance

Cannabis QMS Software Validation: Seed-to-Sale


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Sherry Ellen Slitts
Sherry has been active in the biotechnology industry since 2010. She is experienced in developing quality management systems and documentation for regulatory compliance under GMP guidelines. Her background in microbiology, cell biology, and aseptic processing provide a scientific context for cannabis production methods. Sherry has a passion for plant science, especially in the areas of tissue culture and bioactive compound extraction.

GrowerIQ integrates cultivation and quality assurance so correlational metrics can provide data-driven insights and solutions.

In order to comply with rigorous documentation requirements for cannabis cultivation, growers often need Quality Assurance (QA) or Quality Management System (QMS) software. GrowerIQ seed-to-sale software is an integrated QMS + Cultivation + ERP system that offers all of the systems you need in one integrates software suite!

Cannabis QA software does more than track batches. It needs to be able to store and control access to documents and reports. Also, it must document investigations, environmental monitoring, and both cultivation and non-cultivation activities.

Cannabis quality assurance software must also be validated to ensure it is secure and free of bugs that could lead to corrupted or missing records. These standards are more than the best practices for QA software - they are a Health Canada regulatory requirement for standard cultivation and micro cultivation alike.

Cannabis Cultivation Software vs QA Software

Seed-to-sale cultivation software can be limited to tracking cannabis batches and crop maintenance. Even seemingly full-featured cannabis cultivation software can fail to meet the requirements for Canadian cannabis quality assurance software. Below are just some of the cannabis quality assurance records required by Health Canada's Good Production Practices:

Regulation

Examples of Records

Investigation of quality-related complaints (s. 88(a))

Records that describe investigations of cannabis quality complaints and records of complaint investigation

Testing for phytocannabinoids and pesticides (s. 90(1))

Records of test results for each batch or lot of cannabis 

Storage and Distribution (s.82)

Records of temperature, humidity, and lighting generated from the storage locations

Sanitation (s. 87)

Records of building and equipment cleaning,
equipment maintenance, employee training, 
cleaning solution usage and preparation

Quality Assurance Software for Cannabis

Cannabis QA software is absolutely critical, but so is the ability to relate cultivation data and metrics from seed-to-sale software with quality assurance trends like environmental monitoring results and cleaning records. The ability to do this allows for highly efficient and effective investigations of issues like instances of contamination or pest outbreak.

Customizing an off-the-shelf legacy ERP to have this capability takes time-consuming and costly programming and validation work. However, the unique seed-to-sale software solution from GrowerIQ has been engineered with these considerations in mind. GrowerIQ integrates cultivation and quality assurance so correlational metrics can provide data-driven insights and solutions.

Software Verification

Each development phase of the software has specific requirements to meet. Verification provides objective evidence that the design outputs meet those requirements. The software should be correct, complete, and consistent. Verification activities are intended to confirm this. Such activities include various static and dynamic analyses, code and document inspections, walk-throughs, and other techniques.

Software Validation

Software validation occurs during and after software design. It provides evidence that the software meets both system and implementation requirements. The US FDA considers software validation to be "confirmation by examination and provision of objective evidence that software specifications conform to user needs and intended uses, and that the particular requirements implemented through software can be consistently fulfilled." In the designing phase, software engineers must design an overall validation program for the software that will meet these requirements.

GrowerIQ's Quality Management System Features

  • Master Activity Log
  • Document Repository
  • SOP Repository with Version Control (More on this in Seed-to-Sale Software: SOPs and Training)
  • Online SOP Training
  • Deviation Reporting
  • Corrective & Preventative Actions
  • Recall Management

Final Thoughts on Cannabis QA Software

Traditional Quality Management Systems (QMS) can be complicated and challenging to maintain. Especially when they're disconnected from all of your cultivation systems. GrowerIQ seed-to-sale software solves that challenge by uniting these systems. Meeting regulatory requirements is critical to maintaining licenses, and the QMS is a vital component.

To compete and thrive in the cannabis industry, it is important to embrace technological solutions. With GrowerIQ you can meet your needs for cultivation software, cannabis QA software, and an ERP all in one system. Further, GrowerIQ uses intelligent computing solutions to provide metrics and data insights that will give your cannabis business the competitive edge required to increase your cannabis sales.

Find Out More

Let's discuss your project in order to customize a comprehensive plan to help you succeed in the cannabis industry. Find out more on our cannabis cultivation platform and its QMS features, or start a chat with us. We're happy to help.

Cannabis Quality Management System


About GrowerIQ

GrowerIQ is a complete cannabis production management platform. Ours is the first platform to integrate your facility systems, including sensors, building controls, QMS, and ERP, into a single simplified interface.

GrowerIQ is changing the way producers use software - transforming a regulatory requirement into a robust platform to learn, analyze, and improve performance.

To find out more about GrowerIQ and how we can help, fill out the form to the right, start a chat, or contact us.

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