Chemical Inventory Management System (CIMS) is a custom-developed application initiated in 2008 that has evolved from a small database for tracking of a few basic reagents to a system that currently functions as an electronic laboratory notebook (ELN), illustrated in the timeline below. An off-the-shelf ELN can be cost prohibitive and difficult to implement; the incremental process has resulted in numerous benefits.
Traceability is critical to QA auditors when reviewing laboratory activities that involve the preparation of reagents and sample processing. Through the use of the CIMS database, QA can audit all materials used in each batch of samples. CIMS can also monitor pipette verification through an add-on module.