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LABORATORY AUTOMATION: A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Automation can be a transformational process for clinical diagnostic and
analytical testing laboratories, helping to meet increasing demand and offer rapid, reproducible, scalable, and high-quality services. However, if not implemented correctly, it can be a time-consuming and costly process. Colin Burnett of industrial automation specialist Festo offers strategic advice on how to set a laboratory up for automation success
L
aboratory automation, through the integration of apparatus, processes and systems, is becoming an increasingly
attractive option for organisations struggling to keep pace with demand. Correctly implemented, laboratory automation can deliver higher throughput, reduced cycle times, more consistent results, and improved personnel safety. But if you get it wrong, the consequences can be severe – from a disconnect between laboratory instruments and software systems, to a demoralised workforce. Festo has considerable experience in
developing automated solutions for all areas of sample preparation, from handling and positioning sample containers to precisely dispensing liquids in microwell plates. Based on this experience, we’ve identified the key ingredients to ease the transition into laboratory automation and optimise the benefits for your organisation and team.
ESTABLISH THE DESIRED OUTCOME A clear vision is essential, so the first step must be to identify what needs to be achieved through automating the laboratory. For example, the goal may be to reduce cost per sample, increase throughput, or to free up staff for value-added tasks. It is then important to share these priorities with your automation partner, enabling them to assess whether existing equipment can be suitably automated, and how some factors – such as scalability to meet future growth – can be factored in. An audit of existing assets will determine
essentials that could affect automation design, such as availability and positioning of utilities like air, nitrogen, electricity, and water. It will also consider practical issues such as accessibility – whether new automated systems will fit through the laboratory doors, for instance – and whether the existing lab layout requires any adjustment to optimise efficiency.
18 DESIGN SOLUTIONS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2025
ENGAGED TEAMS Successful automation projects are supported by engaged teams. Knowing where the current bottlenecks are, as well as ideas on how to improve processes, are invaluable in determining the optimal automation solution. It is also worth exploring how automation will affect daily routines: if the team are no longer undertaking some repetitive tasks, what can they do with that time to be even more productive? Involving everyone from the outset also means
they are more likely to engage with, and accept, the changes that automation will bring.
BE CLEAR ABOUT COSTS In addition to the capital investment in automation equipment and software, a financial assessment should factor in associated costs such as installation, transportation, and maintenance requirements, as well as any additional training or recruitment needs. Taken
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