Omics Overview

Optical Software's primary software package is designed for surfacing laboratories and is suitable for both wholesale and retail lab environments of any size. The OMICS package is a full management system completely modular in nature. This means you can purchase and implement only the software "steps" or modules you need now for your laboratory, with the ability to add any Steps you had initially skipped at any time in the future. OMICS consists of five main Steps.

Step 1 is our base module, and is for Surface Calculations with Machine Interfacing. This step must be in place before any other steps can be added to your system. 

Step 2 includes Complete Lens Catalogue, Automatic Blank Selection, Lens Pick Verification and Perpetual Inventory Control.

Step 3 covers Order Entry with Billing, Invoicing and Account Receivable functions.

Step 4 is for  Job Tracking and Customer Service Tools.

Step 5 is a Custom Report Writer. 

Our solutions are technically sound and proven systems. Ongoing R & D ensures that each product suite remains up to date with the latest industry trends and developments. Trained technicians who understand our software, computers and the optical industry, staff toll free support lines.

Overview of OMICS Features

OMICS (Optical Management Information Control System) is a full-featured laboratory management package consisting of Rx order management, surfacing calculations, inventory control, lens blank selection, accounts receivable, device interfacing and tray tracking.  Each of these modules is completely integrated with the others and provides a complete solution for the optical laboratory.

Entry of orders may be accomplished by manual input or electronically from information received directly from retail sites.  OMICS permits the user to manually select the lens blanks to use for the job, or will automatically select blanks based on a comprehensive set of rules, which may be modified by the laboratory.  Using lab-modifiable base curve charts and a complete database of available lens data, OMICS will analyze the prescription, including the frame tracing and select the optimum lens blanks for the job.  OMICS permits the lab to specify alias (or alternate) items for blank selection, allowing for selection of alternate items when required.  This allows OMICS to automatically select short or regular corridor progressives as applicable; to consider multiple mid-index lenses for a job, and many other situations that ordinarily require user intervention.  Some OMICS customers receive virtually all orders electronically; in these cases, our sophisticated blank selection and calculations require no user intervention until the selected lens is actually picked.  While OMICS of course permits a lab to over-ride default selections and pick blanks directly, such substitutions are generally limited to supply reasons.

OMICS' surfacing calculations are second-to-none in the industry, and fully supports sagittal height data from manufacturers to ensure optimum calculations for progressive lenses, for example.  Rules for block size selection are modifiable by the laboratory, and surfacing options are fully controlled by the lab. 

OMICS supports electronic entry of orders from another OMICS system, from our Remote Order Entry package, and also from third-party systems using our published Generic Interface Format.  All formats support remote traces, including VCA format with any number of trace points. 

Once lenses have been selected for an Rx, OMICS calculates a work ticket using the most accurate lens calculation system in the industry. The work ticket is available in several different formats, including basic text-based forms, laser-based forms including easy-to-read varying font sizes and graphics.  OMICS also supports work ticket formats for use with automated robotic laboratory equipment.

In the production process, OMICS interfaces with virtually all standard laboratory production equipment, and several pieces of equipment that are not specific to the industry.  OMICS is fully VCA-compliant, assuring compatibility with new equipment as it is released.  Optical Software is also committed to supporting new features as they are added to the VCA standard, and is willing to develop interfaces to new equipment as required.  With the VCA standard, OMICS will provide equipment with full information, including clamp pressure, grooving, beveling and polishing instructions, macro selection by material.  In addition to keeping up-to-date with new interfaces, especially VCA, OMICS supports most older equipment interfaces, including some no longer manufactured.  OMICS supports full 3-D points for trace data, for both VCA and all older interfaces that offered that option.

OMICS provides a sophisticated inventory management system, including a lens catalogue of nearly all lenses available in North America, and many from outside.  Inventory is real-time, and inventory levels are considered during the manufacturing process.  Both manual and automatic generation of purchase orders are provided, including an excellent inventory forecasting method for determining optimum inventory levels.  Forecasting takes into account not just historical data on inventory usage, but also analyses trends and suggests order levels for the future.  The lab can control all parameters related to this process, including the right to over-ride suggested reorder levels and quantities.  Ordering of lenses may be done electronically to lens vendors, which support that option.  Inventory is not limited to lens products; frames and miscellaneous items are also supported.  Full use is made of both OPC and UPC codes to simplify inventory scanning in the lab, and OMICS can make use of cost data from vendors electronically, relieving lab staff from the need to maintain that data manually.

Tray tracking permits a lab to locate jobs in a lab easily by scanning trays as they move through the production process.  OMICS allows over 2000 stations to be specified for tray tracking purposes.  Jobs are automatically tracked at each interfaced device; in addition, scanners can be placed throughout the lab for locations that do not have interfaced equipment.  Customer service can quickly locate a job, and can also view the progress of a job through complete tray tracking history.  Reports help a lab identify bottlenecks by tracking jobs that haven't moved from a station in a specified amount of time.

OMICS takes tray tracking one step further, however, by implementing a full job flow checking system.  At shipping, jobs are checked to ensure that all required processes (tints, coatings, edging, etc.) have been performed - if a service is missing, the job cannot be shipped.  It can also be used to prevent jobs from having services performed that are not required; ensures that uncuts are not edged accidentally; ensures that lenses and frames are picked correctly, and several other checks as well.  The lab also has the ability to set up user-defined job flow checks, adding to the flexibility.

OMICS offers a very flexible pricing module, permitting pricing of both Rx information and services in many ways.  Over 14,000 individual price lists may exist for a lab, and full support is offered to automatically price prism, oversize blanks, oversize frames, special add powers, special segment sizes and many other options.  Non-material costs may also be entered based on the job done, permitting tracking of labor and overhead for different lens products.  Invoices may be printed in several different formats, either on pre-printed forms or on plain paper.  Reports are provided which analyze sales information, cost information, sales margins and other information, in various ways including by customer, by group, etc. 

The accounts receivable module allows a lab to produce statements, produce financial reports of sales, etc.  It supports both balance-forward and open-item invoicing modes, volume discounting, line item discounting, early payment discounts, and third-party billing.  A full suite of reports is provided for the lab, as well.  In addition to the built-in A/R module, OMICS also interfaces to some third-party accounting packages, and development of custom interfaces to corporate systems is available.