i
MS
United we stand
integrates a PIMS, in this case Honeywell’s
Uniformance PHD system, with LIMS
software from LabWare. The LIMS is used
to capture, manage and distribute quality
Linking with L
control results within its laboratories, which
perform analyses on incoming raw materials,
intermediates, effluents and finished products.
‘The PHD system is used to display
analytical data produced by the laboratory
in graphical form for analysis. In-process
results were required to be transferred to PHD
automatically on authorisation to assist in
plant monitoring and control,’ says Thandeka
Cele, lab manager at the Engen Refinery.
Cele explains that, to link the two
systems, a simple database interface is used.
ABOVE: Waters’ Intelligent Procedure Manager (IPM) adds a degree of intelligence to Word and
Authorised in-process results are queued in
Excel documents allowing the data stored in them to be integrated into LIMS. a staging table in LIMS for export to PHD.
Running at a configurable frequency, a
Getting informatics
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Process background task in LIMS pushes the queued
Information Management Systems (PIMS), results to a staging table in a companion PHD
working in unison is
and quoting and invoicing systems, as well database. PHD imports the results from its
highly advantageous for
as document management systems such as companion database and LIMS cleans up its
laboratories.
Enterprise Content Management (ECM) staging table by removing processed records.
and Scientific Data Management Systems Cele identifies the need to maintain
Greg Blackman
(SDMS). ‘The prevalence of each type of up-to-date tag mapping in LIMS – showing
investigates the technology
software linking to LIMS depends largely what data needs to be transferred – as being
on the industry,’ explains Colin Thurston, crucial to the integrated system’s success.
and types of management director of product strategy, process industries, ‘Failure by PHD administrators to do this
software commonly
informatics at Thermo Fisher Scientific. prevents transfer of relevant data from LIMS
For instance, OSIsoft’s PI system, a PIMS, to PHD, while failure to add new tags to
integrated with LIMS
is designed to manage a continuous flow PHD prevents its reception by PHD. These
of data, such as that found in the oil and problems can only be overcome by proper
L
aboratory Information Management petrochemical industry. communication between the LIMS and PHD
Systems (LIMS) have their place in administrators,’ Cele says. Engen are now
the laboratory and work very well in the Process management software looking to make use of the OPC standard for
area for which they’re designed. However, OSIsoft’s PI, along with other process linking LIMS to PIMS.
laboratory environments don’t begin and management software, adheres to the OLE LabWare also has numerous other
end with LIMS and there are numerous for Process Control (OPC) standard, a
software programs handling the various predefined method of interfacing with other
processes going on in the average lab. LIMS systems complying with OPC. The standard
software on its own is a useful tool but, to get allows systems to link to each other without
more out of it, systems need to be brought having to write complex custom code.
together to work in unison. Integration Thermo Scientific’s Integration Manager
of LIMS with other software is becoming module, available with its LIMS, is compliant
increasingly common in laboratories, and the to the OPC standard making integration into
range of systems and technology to do this is such systems relatively straightforward.
continuously advancing. The Engen Refinery, an oil refinery
ABOVE: LimsLink from Labtronics
synchronises the information going into LIMS
Data from LIMS can be linked to a wide located in Durban, South Africa and
and document management systems via a
8
range of management software, such as part of the petroleum company Engen, sophisticated data parser.
LIG09 pp08-13 LIMS Apps.indd 8 9/12/08 17:09:33
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