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From Paper to eQMS: How MURR Modernized Its Growing GMP Quality Operation with ZenQMS
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About MURR
The University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) is an academic research organization whose work includes producing radioisotopes used in cancer detection and treatment. As its Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) operation grew, MURR needed a quality system that could grow with it.
Success Highlights
At a Glance
MURR relied on paper records, Excel spreadsheets, and an Access database to manage its growing GMP quality operation. The organization needed an electronic quality management system (eQMS) that could support its 21 CFR Part 11 and validation requirements while giving teams more flexibility and visibility.
With ZenQMS, MURR is improving GMP compliance, streamlining paper-based workflows, and reducing the frustration of tracking down quality records.
When Paper-Based Quality Management Couldn’t Keep Up
“Before Zen, we were all paper – 100% paper – unless you count Excel spreadsheets,” said Diana, a Validation Engineer who works primarily in computer system validation and helps administer ZenQMS at MURR.
As MURR’s GMP activities expanded, managing its quality processes became increasingly difficult. Records could be spread across departments and locations. Employees had to track down physical documents, and producing useful metrics from paper was painful.
“We were looking at how we could manage all this paper and all these processes and procedures. People were trying to do metrics on paper, and that was painful.” – Diana Mayes, Validation Engineer II, MURR
MURR needed an eQMS that could support its compliance requirements without forcing the organization into rigid workflows.
Evaluating Compliance and Validation Support
Compliance was one of MURR’s most important eQMS selection requirements.
With decades of GMP and FDA experience, Diana examined ZenQMS’s procedures, security controls, audit trails, and supporting documentation. MURR assessed risks and evaluated how the system would support its regulated processes. Two critical components made the process simple:
- Audit Share: ZenQMS Audit Share gave Diana direct access to the information needed to conduct MURR’s vendor audit remotely. She estimated that the portal answered approximately 99% of the organization’s vendor questionnaire.
“I love the Audit Share. I wish every company did something like that. There wasn’t a lot of fluff. It was the actual information I needed.”
- Validation Documentation: MURR also incorporated ZenQMS validation documentation into its requirements traceability matrix. That documentation gave the team a foundation for its own validation and allowed it to focus more closely on MURR’s configurations and workflows.
“Our validation may be a little lighter than if there wasn’t that confidence and documentation from Zen. I focus more on our configuration, making sure it’s accurate, and pushing the buttons – if I push this button, does the action happen that’s supposed to happen?”
Learn more about ZenQMS validation and compliance support.
Streamlining GMP Quality Processes with a Configurable eQMS
MURR went live with ZenQMS in February 2026. The organization uses Documents, Change Control, and Training and is preparing to launch Issues.
Migrating years of information required significant work and historical cleanup. But organizing that information for an eQMS also helped the team identify categories that could be consolidated and processes that no longer made sense.
Instead of simply rebuilding its paper system online, MURR began looking for better ways to complete the work.
“It’s not just, ‘Duplicate this electronically and go.’ Zen has really opened people’s eyes to the fact that we can do things differently and streamline.”
Two Paper Forms Become One Workflow
MURR’s environmental-monitoring process showed what that could look like.
Because everything would not fit on one sheet of paper, environmental-monitoring information had been separated from temperature and humidity information. Employees had to work with two forms for what was essentially one process.
Using conditional fields in ZenQMS, MURR combined those forms into one electronic workflow. The fields now change based on the user’s selection, showing only the information relevant to that activity.
Diana called conditional fields a “game changer.”
When she showed employees the redesigned process, their reaction was immediate: “This is awesome.”
“If you can reduce the frustration of not knowing where that piece of paper is, not knowing who has it, or who to contact, that’s a huge benefit.”
Greater Visibility Across GMP Quality Activities
With ZenQMS, MURR’s managers have a clearer view of document reviews and training progress without searching through individual paper records.
“Management can see where their team is on reviewing procedures and taking their training. They don’t have to go find a piece of paper – they can see it on their dashboard.”
Teams can also follow quality activities through their workflows, identify work that may have stalled, and act before deadlines are missed.
That transparency gives MURR a better foundation for tracking quality metrics and management goals as the organization continues expanding its GMP operation.
An internal core team known as the “Zen Masters” supports that growth by helping users navigate the system, sharing practical guidance, and collecting enhancement ideas. Diana said the group tells users that ZenQMS is responsive and encourages them to continue providing feedback.
MURR is still building on its ZenQMS foundation. The team continues to improve its workflows, support users, and prepare the Issues module for launch.
“I have a couple of decades working with software vendors in the GMP space, and it is so refreshing to work with a vendor that actually cares and listens to the end users!” – Diana Mayes, Validation Engineer II, MURR
Diana is candid that moving from paper to an eQMS requires work – but equally clear about the value on the other side.
“It’s going to hurt a little bit going into it, but it’s going to be so worth it on the other end. Overall, I’m thrilled with Zen. I’m very happy with it.”
Ready to leave paper-based quality processes behind? See how ZenQMS can help your team improve compliance, streamline workflows, and gain greater visibility with a 3-minute demo.