LIMS-BPMS COUPLING continued
Figure 2 – Current parameter type system for end-to-end process documentation.
LIMS as generic information management for BPMS coupling in standard-based workflow automation
LIMS as documentation systems Use of LIMS as an IT-assisted documentation system and result storage system is now established not only for analytical subprocesses— configurability, Web platforms, SOA features, APIs, and others demon- strate the progress that has been made in recent years.4
LIMS are often
still used as standalone solutions. System networks commonly focus on the automated data acquisition of laboratory equipment (e.g., analyti- cal results). The extent of coverage of process documentation and thus master data management within LIMS has increased dramatically in the last 10 years, and has resulted in data consistency across the laboratory.
For highly variable R&D processes of life science automation, which have different structuring levels, open database-driven process docu- mentation with a run-time extensible database model is required. At the Center for Life Science Automation (Celisca) at the University of Rostock, Germany, a generic approach for hierarchical process documentation was developed under the abbreviated name openLIMS. This application is validated for biology, chemistry, and medicine.5–7
The validation pro-
cess included the documentation of numerous semiautomated project references from different research areas.
The LIMS application openLIMS used for the testing of the BPM approach merges data and information pools that are often distributed (i.e., ELN, master data management, chemical inventory management, process execution data, and experiment result data). Thus, the application is in the domain of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and other solutions. Since openLIMS is already available as a Web platform for
intranets, different software components can be easily used by Web services for execution of activities.
Parameter type system for LIMS using openLIMS At the core of this open process mapping is an adaptable parameter sys-
tem that is generated on the basis of an adequate data type system for describing process parameters. In addition to simple status and descrip- tion parameters, complex data structures—such as multidimensional time series, images, or chemical structures and reactions—are used. Further, any process parameters with validation properties (e.g., discrete and continuous definitions of validity) are definable. This establishes a comprehensive parameter type system for both process descriptions as well as for master data. In openLIMS, the parameter type system shown in Figure 2 proved to be sufficient for the above-mentioned target areas of life science automation (chemistry, biology, and medicine).
Generic process description system in LIMS Process recording in openLIMS using the described open parameter type
system is divided into seven hierarchy levels called Process Description Levels (PDLs): Projects, Studies, Test Series, Experiments, Parallel Sequences, Sequences, and Steps of Sequences. Each description level can be documented with the entire customized parameter system. These parameters form many attributes of the hierarchical PDLs.
One focus is the labeling of process steps that correlate with the atomic activities in BPMN models. The overall workflow automation approach should be adequately documented up to the level of test series (i.e., PDL test series to single steps). The LIMS as an integrated information management solution can also map the organizational levels of docu- mentation—in this example, the project and study management that
AMERICAN LABORATORY • 28 • MAY 2014
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