RICHLAND, Wash. – A software tool that tracks hazardous chemical, biological and radiological materials used in scientific research throughout their lifecycle, as well as general property, has earned Pacific Northwest National Laboratory a spot high on the prestigious InformationWeek 500 list of most innovative users of business information technology.
The Department of Energy laboratory was ranked 43rd in the annual list, which was released today by the technology magazine InformationWeek. This is the fourth year in a row the magazine has recognized PNNL, and the 43rd spot is the highest of those rankings.
The Vanguard Group Inc. was ranked first, followed by InterContinental Hotels Group, Colgate-Palmolive Co., Merck, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Coca Cola Enterprises Inc. Other notable companies on this year's list include Dell (No. 57), AT&T (No. 179), Microsoft (No. 234) and Boeing (No. 245).
PNNL was recognized for its Asset Screening Information and Stewardship Tracking tool, or ASIST, which was developed to aid with the move out of 700,000 square feet of Cold War era laboratory and office space into seven new and two remodeled buildings. ASIST is expected to save PNNL more than $11 million over five years.
"ASIST is helping us reduce moving and operating costs as well as comply with safety and environmental regulations," said PNNL CIO Jerry Johnson. "It's a tracking system that allows hazardous materials stewards to screen and track, in real time, chemicals, biological agents radioactive materials and property and then make informed decisions about continued retention of the assets based on need and the capacity for the laboratory to afford the lifecycle cost of the asset," he added.
PNNL was ranked 210th last year, 211th in 2008 and 54th in 2007.
The complete InformationWeek 500 list can be found online.
