What Makes a Good Aviation SMS Tool Kit?
NorthWest Data Solutions in Anchorage, Alaska designs, develops and supports a Web-based, aviation SMS software application called SMS Pro. SMS Pro is a complete toolkit for aviation service providers to manage their aviation safety management systems (SMS) requirements. SMS Pro uses a SQL Server database and is a highly customizable aviation safety management system that was designed specifically for the aviation industry following the documented SMS requirements and recommendations of ICAO, IS-BAO, FAA and Transport Canada. These documents include:
- ICAO's 9859
- FAA's 120-92; and a lot of
- Transport Canada's SMS documentation.
All of this documentation carries the common ICAO message and SMS Pro has grown to include all the major elements required by the world's aviation SMS regulatory agencies. SMS Pro is based on ICAO's four pillars:
- Safety Policy
- Risk Management
- Safety Assurance; and
- Safety Promotion
SMS Pro has been accepted by Transport Canada as an SMS database tool for more than two years and has been used as the aviation SMS Web-based solution by many organizations.
Most aviation service providers in the world today are required by law to have a formal aviation SMS in place. The United States is an exception -- however, the FAA is undergoing advanced notice of rule-making for aviation service providers to implement a formal SMS.
At the heart of SMS Pro is the common hazard reporting system that so many other competing products provide. However, what is remarkable about SMS Pro is the incredibly robust and complete issue management tool kit.
SMS Pro is more than a hazard reporting and issue management database solution. It is also more than a customized auditing tool that so many other vendors provide and try to pass off as an complete SMS solution.
Many professional SMS training companies and consultants call SMS Pro the most complete SMS toolkit.
When you review SMS Pro, you will see many modules to keep your SMS data organized and always prepared for an audit. Instead of hunting in file cabinets for requested documents and trying to find that misplaced Excel spreadsheet, you will always be able to answer SMS auditors questions with a couple clicks of the mouse.
SMS Pro is a very affordable solution ideally suited for companies with between 100 and 500 employees. However, companies with fewer than 40 employees and more than 1000 can also be supported because SMS Pro is a very scalable solution.
For an organization with 100 employees, the return on investment is approximately one year when one considers the labor savings associated with managing issues. But the real value SMS Pro provides occurs after more than one year of data collection when the trending charts and financial charts start providing useful data for managing hazards and focusing on business processes that are costing you money.
SMS Pro comes in two hosting solutions: First, NWDS can provide a turnkey solution. We provide the Web server, enterprise-level SQL Server database and the network to provide on online solution to your organization within two working days. The other solution allows organizations to put SMS Pro onto their own hardware and security of their network. Of course, the second solution is more expensive by a magnitude of about 3 to 4 times when one considers, labor, hardware and software costs.
About NWDS - founded in 2003 by six software engineers, NorthWest Data Solutions (NWDS) provides custom computer programming and systems design services. NWDS creates many types of software, including e-commerce, financial, defense, engineering, logistics, aviation and more. In 2007, NWDS developed SMS Pro™ a web based SMS application that supports an organization's overall SMS through safety reporting, safety documentation, safety risk management and safety assurance. SMS Pro™ is currently used by aviation organizations in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East to help manage their SMS programs. NWDS continues to support SMS Pro™ and add new functionality. NWDS offers custom contract programming services in the U.S. and Canada and is managed by Chris Howell, one of the founders. Their headquarters is in Anchorage, Alaska. For information on NWDS visit their website at www.nwds-ak.com and www.asms-pro.com to learn more about SMS Pro™.
