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Case study: Shell Scotford transforms its lab IT with Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS software in the cloud
Twenty years after choosing Thermo Scientific
SampleManager LIMS software to manage its laboratory operations and data, Shell faced a critical decision point with its LIMS infrastructure. While this deployment was a textbook example of how a Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) can streamline laboratory operations and automate the transmission of quality data to the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for final product release, the issue was around supportability and upgradeability. Shell IT was supporting more than 20 distinct LIMS implementations. Acquiring, configuring, and maintaining hardware for each LIMS implementation was challenging. Project timelines were growing, as were project costs. These challenges made Shell take a fresh look at the latest LIMS and infrastructure capabilities. Shell recognised that cloud technology could drastically simplify the LIMS deployment and future upgrades. Shell determined that instead of upgrading its existing system, it was time to rethink its LIMS deployment and transform its laboratory IT infrastructure.
Cloud Impact Seeking reduced total cost of ownership while providing a future-proof platform, Shell rolled out a cloud- based infrastructure for its new SampleManager LIMS software implementation. Shell chose its Jurong Island, Deer Park, and Scotford sites as the proving grounds for this new
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recovery drills cost Shell 15 to 20 days of productivity annually.
With the cloud model, Shell is no longer subscribing to a disaster recovery service. Shell selected a multi-zone subscription for the LIMS database, which is a standard option in the AWS catalogue. If one zone goes down, AWS automatically switches to the other zone. The application servers
‘Some people in IT were hesitant to go with the cloud. After the first few sites were up, they realised this was the way to go’
approach. Instead of using the Shell data centre, Shell chose a private Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud to host its LIMS. ‘We had some people in Shell IT that, out of an abundance of caution, were hesitant to go with the cloud,’ global program manager Subra Balakrishnan recalled. ‘But, after the first few sites were up, they realised this was the way to go.’ For Shell, the benefits of the cloud infrastructure were immediate. ‘The SampleManager LIMS software works great in this setup. The performance has been the same or even better than data center servers.’ The cloud infrastructure has also helped simplify Shell’s upgrade
process. Shell can stand up a new instance in a couple of hours, instead of waiting six weeks for a server to be ready for an upgrade. Once the cloud instance is ready, Shell hands off to the Thermo Fisher LIMS professional services team to configure the system. Moving to the cloud immediately cut six weeks from the implementation project timeline, while maintaining a high level of security with the private cloud.
Another benefit for Shell was the streamlined disaster recovery process. Prior to the cloud deployment, Shell struggled with an inefficient disaster recovery service at its data centre. The process required Shell IT to raise an incident when a database or application went down. Once the severity was assessed, the team would stand up another environment and move the application stack and last database image. Shell would practice the disaster recovery drill annually at each location, spending 12 to 14 hours for each drill. The disaster
are also virtual servers, allowing quick switching during outages for routine maintenance. The cloud model is also more scalable, giving Shell the ability to quickly add CPUs, RAM and storage when needed. ‘With AWS cloud, infrastructure is no longer a bear for us,’ Balakrishnan concluded. ‘We don’t have to wait for anything from an infrastructure perspective. It’s just there. I whole-heartedly endorse going to cloud.’
A sustainable future After the successful rollout of SampleManager LIMS software at Scotford, Shell anticipates a global rollout will pay dividends. Shell IT is confident it can drastically lower the cost of future upgrades and reduce total cost of ownership, completing future LIMS upgrade projects in weeks, instead of months. The new model is gaining momentum at Shell. ‘We’ve seen very high interest enterprise- wide looking to replicate this model,’ Balakrishnan shared. ‘This approach is emerging as the way to go.’ Shell plans to rollout the
new model to multiple sites throughout the enterprise.
February/March 2020 Scientific Computing World 13
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