LIMS Markets

Biorepositories

Lab Information Management System: Process Industries and Manufacturing

Lab Information Management System Introduction

In manufacturing environments, the laboratory operation must support the production business by providing timely and accurate information about  production processes and product quality. The laboratory is a critical part of the business, as it helps ensure that the manufacturing process works efficiently and that the products meet defined specifications, safety requirements and quality standards. In addition, the laboratory often provides an analytical service to the business, facilitating process optimization, process trouble-shooting and method or manufacturing process development.

In the context of rising globalization and increased competition, today’s manufacturing industries are under continual pressure to control costs and increase efficiency. In recent years, this has been accompanied by increasing safety and environmental regulation of the industry driven by both government and public concerns.

Lab Information Management System Competitive Edge

Maintaining a competitive edge in the industry requires efficient management of data and information generated by the laboratory, together with the automation of processes. Lab information management systems require effective integration of data sources and information systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP) and Process Control Systems. STARLIMS lab information management systems supports the streamlining of laboratory work flows while maintaining both the quality of the product and a clean environment. It constitutes an essential part of the an organization’s quality management system.

LIMS must ensure that the information generated can be transferred rapidly and accurately to people (which may include operators, customers and sales personnel) or systems that require it. LIMS may also be responsible for managing the testing schedule. In addition, any LIMS within this type of industry must be able to handle the testing of raw materials, intermediate products and finished goods--which of course require lot and batch management and disposition facilities, as well as the management of product specifications and even product recipes.

Lab Information Management System Solutions

STARLIMS solutions for Process Industries and Manufacturing provide the  features and functionality required to help these organizations maximize the efficiency and cost effectiveness of their manufacturing processes while at the same time ensuring that products meet the defined quality requirements. LIMS is a vital component in the monitoring of both batch and continuous manufacturing processes, especially when integrated with other business critical system such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Process Information Management Systems (PIMS).

Lab Information Management System Benefits:

STARLIMS addresses the needs of Process and Manufacturing industries by providing functionalities such as:

	The use of off the shelf data structures that meet the workflow requirements for
	Continuous and Batch manufacturing and Lot Management
	Raw Material,  Intermediate Product and Finished Product testing workflows including sampling and testing schedules
	Full support for sample tracking and identification with bar-coding
	Definition and management of Product Specifications and the automatic checking of analytical results against these specifications
	Integration of analytical instruments and equipment to speed up data entry and reduce transcription errors
	Flexible reporting functions that meet the complex requirements of a wide variety of internal and external customer, including production of Certificates of Analysis
	Ability to store, manage and control all documents associated with the workflow including CofAs
	Integration with other best of breed automation and enterprise systems including ERP/MRP, and DCS systems,  including a certified link to SAP, achieved through the use of a Web Services approach

In addition, the inherent flexibility of the lab information management system means that changes to business needs and working practices can be readily supported and implemented without losing existing functionality or data. STARLIMS is fully web-based and uses familiar user interfaces, which simplifies both user training and implementation in new sites or new parts of the organization. Global and multi-site deployment is also facilitated thanks to web-based technology.

To Learn More about STARLIMS LIMS Solutions, see also:

	LIMS Lab Information Management System - Chemical
	LIMS - Lab Information Management System - Environmental
	LIMS - Lab Information Management System - Public Health