| Financial analysis: |  |
| Environmental impact analysis: | --- |
| Waste management/P2: | |
| Environmental cost listing/database: | --- |
| Cost estimation: | --- |
| Alternative product/process comparison: | --- |
| Financial analysis: | |
| Environmental impact analysis: | --- |
| Waste management/P2: | |
| Environmental cost listing/database: | --- |
| Cost estimation: | --- |
| Alternative product/process comparison: | --- |
| Cost control | --- |
| Resource control | --- |
| Estimating control | --- |
| Schedule control | --- |
| Scope control | --- |
| Risk control | --- |
Terralink's product series is a Windows-based, wide ranging modular tool for solid and hazardous waste tracking. The modules include a base module (Cradle to Grave) and subsequent tracking module (TerraTrac), profile module (TerraPro),communications module (TerraCom) and a manifesting and profile satellite. The areas covered by the various modules include the following:
Terralink's product series deals with profiling, manifesting, and tracking waste. Wastestream paths can be analyzed and details can be entered on waste profiles, chemical information, manifest numbers, shipment dates, facilities, exposure amounts, and final disposal methods. It includes reference libraries such as DOT hazardous material tables and EPA waste codes. It also includes a complete TSDF library. The system can track waste by process, department, or unit responsible for generation. It helps in compliance with CERCLA and RCRA regulations. Reports generated include Land Disposal Restriction Forms, transporter fee reports, and monthly and quarterly state reports.
TerraCom (through modem interface) facilitates information exchange between generators and transporters or between various offices. The manifesting satellite allows companies to print manifests in a remote location while keeping the information in a central office. The profile satellite can be used to gather profile information from remote locations and can be installed on a laptop computer.
| Raw material acquisition | --- |
| Manufacturing stage | --- |
| Use/reuse/maintenance | --- |
| Recycle/waste management | |
The system currently tracks waste materials from the point at which they enter the system, to when they turn into waste and are finally disposed of at their final resting place. Although Terralink's product series can track waste by process, department, or unit responsible for generation, it does not detail these elements. There is no quantitative linkage between the quantities and types of material used or type of production process and waste generated. Thus, users cannot simulate changes in waste quantities and costs as a result of process changes or source reduction. There is no tracking of raw material and chemical use in production, or other activities. All materials and outputs are not tracked. Recycling is not taken into account.
Terralink is planning to release an inventory module, TerraTory, which will additionally include the use/reuse stage of the life-cycle. This module will track all incoming raw material throughout its life in a facility (including waste disposal and recycling), and each section will have a costing portion. This will also include a library for MSDSs.
| Conventional | --- |
| Potentially hidden | |
| Contingent | --- |
| External | --- |
The system has three costing fields in which users can enter hidden cost information associated with waste disposal, such as transporter and manifest fees. Thus, only a limited number of costs can be entered. Other conventional costs, such as labor, capital, and material costs that companies would need to incur during the course of environmental management activities, cannot be detailed. External or contingent costs that may be involved in the various life-cycle stages that hazardous materials would go through cannot be estimated or entered. The actual cost involved in the tracking activity is not included.
Thus, the full costs of using a material or product in a facility, including all these cost categories, cannot be estimated. Also, all conventional and hidden costs are not tracked and entered into the system. The costs that are entered cannot be collated to form a historical cost library. This could be a useful feature that could encourage companies to take some hidden costs into account in capital budgeting or project management. For example, if a particular project involved purchasing and using a hazardous material, they would be able to estimate some hidden costs that could be expected for material tracking and regulatory compliance, etc.
The system is not designed for cost estimation.
| Net present value (NPV) | --- |
| Payback period | --- |
| Internal rate of return (IRR) | --- |
| Benefits cost ratio | --- |
| Other | --- |
The program is interactive in nature. It is written in FoxPro (now a Microsoft product) and therefore can access data from other Windows products. Each section has ten extra information fields that users can fill according to their requirements, providing some flexibility to users.
Terralink's product series comes with a built-in reference library that includes the DOT Hazardous Materials Table, EPA waste codes, and the Emergency Response Guidebook. Although this system is not designed for project management, it does help companies maintain better information and control over hazardous materials used. Companies may avert some contingent costs and less-tangible costs by using software systems such as these, but the costs and benefits cannot be quantified.
The company currently gives users the option to test and use the actual software through a full working program demo for a 30 day trial period. The company offers consulting support, on- and off-site training, toll-free telephone support (9.00 - 6.00 PM Eastern), and annual maintenance programs. The price of the software includes free maintenance and support for one year.
The system is limited to hazardous waste management, and may not consider the full range of environmental costs a company may incur. It does not consider social or other external impacts, and no custom reports can be generated.
The current system considers only a limited variety of costs with some options for customization. Users cannot detail these cost components. The existing cost fields are only for some hidden costs related waste management. Other conventional, contingency, or less tangible costs cannot be estimated or detailed. There is no feature for maintaining historical cost records, as related to quantities and types of materials managed. The system cannot integrate with company accounting systems, resulting in managing these costs separately, rather than integrating them with other company costs. The system is not designed for, and has no modules for, project management. Like most other waste management and tracking tools, the primary objective is to facilitate compliance, not to manage and minimize costs. However, if this area were developed, pollution prevention and other environmental initiatives would be encouraged as a result of better cost information.
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