Electronic Signatures ensure Maxxam Analytics is Regulatory Compliant

Pleasant Hill, California, 13 March, 2007

ARX Inc. (Algorithmic Research), a leading global provider of standards-based electronic signatures (digital signatures) and information assurance solutions, has implemented a CoSign® electronic signature solution throughout the North American-based laboratories of Maxxam Analytics Inc.

CoSign enables Maxxam project managers to electronically sign Certificates-of-Analysis and other reports for their clients in compliance with GLP and numerous other regulations. The reports are checked out of Maxxam’s Laboratory Information Management System (MaxxLIMS) for reviewing, printing, and signing.  Since CoSign’s signatures are standards-based, the signed reports may be easily downloaded by third parties for validation, without requiring additional legacy software or hardware installations.

Maxxam analytical reports are created for clients across several industries, including petroleum, automotive and government agencies, among others. "CoSign works seamlessly with the PDF-based reports created in our workflow," said Maxxam’s Application-Development Manager, Sorin Bobariu. He further explained that Maxxam’s project managers sign and seal around 15,000 reports every month. "Signed copies of all the reports are also retained and archived by Maxxam for a period of time."

CoSign then works with Maxxam's Electronic Document Delivery (EDD) system to allow signed reports to be downloaded by clients to reduce delays in collecting results. Previously, the company had to send a signed hard-copy of every report by mail to its clients. Today, almost 100 project managers across 14 sites in North America seal documents with legally-binding electronic signatures and save on the costs and time associated with paper-based processes.

While paper and postage were a major expense for Maxxam, the human processing cost, however, was even greater. "Each laboratory processes an average of over 100,000 samples every year," Bobariu explained.

"The combination of a secure server-based electronic signature solution combined with our intuitive API enabled Maxxam to rapidly integrate and deploy the solution with almost zero ongoing systems administration," said Rodd Schlerf, Life Sciences Practice Manager, ARX.

Maxxam Analytics Inc., is the largest independent analytical testing laboratory in Canada and one of the largest in North America, with over 25 convenient locations across the country. We have more than 1200 dedicated scientists, technicians and support staff providing critical analytical testing data and information to major companies in the environmental, food, forensic, oil and gas industries. During the past 30 years, we have demonstrated an enviable performance reputation for revenue growth through innovative service offerings, scientific expertise, strategic mergers and most importantly, the loyalty of our customers.

At Maxxam, we stand behind every piece of data we generate. We can be this confident with our results due to our industry leading Quality Systems. These systems include participation in many national and international accreditation programs, certification and licensing by government agencies, proficiency sample analysis, including double blinds, and considerable quality control samples processed within every batch.

For more information, visit http://www.maxxam.ca/