Portfolio:Considerations in the Automation of Laboratory Procedures - Revision history

Shawndouglas: Note

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Note

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	'''Publication date''': January 2021		'''Publication date''': January 2021

			NOTE: This was originally published on [https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LII:Considerations_in_the_Automation_of_Laboratory_Procedures LIMSwiki.org] and is reproduced here using the same license.


	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

Shawndouglas: /* How does this discussion relate to previous work? */

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How does this discussion relate to previous work?

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	* ''[https://www.pda.org/bookstore/product-detail/2684-computerized-systems-in-modern-lab Computerized Systems in the Modern Laboratory: A Practical Guide]'' (2015): This book presents the range of informatics technologies, their relationship to each other, and the role they play in laboratory work. It differentiates a LIMS from an ELN and [[scientific data management system]] (SDMS) for example, contrasting their use and how they would function in different lab working environments. In addition, it covers topics such as support and regulatory issues.		* ''[https://www.pda.org/bookstore/product-detail/2684-computerized-systems-in-modern-lab Computerized Systems in the Modern Laboratory: A Practical Guide]'' (2015): This book presents the range of informatics technologies, their relationship to each other, and the role they play in laboratory work. It differentiates a LIMS from an ELN and [[scientific data management system]] (SDMS) for example, contrasting their use and how they would function in different lab working environments. In addition, it covers topics such as support and regulatory issues.

	* ''[[LII:~~A Guide for Management~~: ~~Successfully Applying Laboratory Systems to Your Organization's Work\|~~A Guide for Management: Successfully Applying Laboratory Systems to Your Organization's Work]]'' (2018): This webinar series complements the above text. It begins by introducing the major topics in informatics (e.g., LIMS, ELN, etc.) and then discusses their use from a strategic viewpoint. Where and how do you start planning? What is your return on investment? What should get implemented first, and then what are my options? The series then moves on to developing an [[information management]] strategy for the lab, taking into account budgets, support, ease of implementation, and the nature of your lab’s work.		* ''[https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LII:A_Guide_for_Management:_Successfully_Applying_Laboratory_Systems_to_Your_Organization%27s_Work A Guide for Management: Successfully Applying Laboratory Systems to Your Organization's Work]'' (2018): This webinar series complements the above text. It begins by introducing the major topics in informatics (e.g., LIMS, ELN, etc.) and then discusses their use from a strategic viewpoint. Where and how do you start planning? What is your return on investment? What should get implemented first, and then what are my options? The series then moves on to developing an [[information management]] strategy for the lab, taking into account budgets, support, ease of implementation, and the nature of your lab’s work.

	The material in this write-up picks up where the last part of the webinar series ends. The last session covers lab processes, amd this picks up that thread and goes into more depth concerning a basic issue: how do you move from manual methods to automated systems?		The material in this write-up picks up where the last part of the webinar series ends. The last session covers lab processes, amd this picks up that thread and goes into more depth concerning a basic issue: how do you move from manual methods to automated systems?

Shawndouglas: /* References */

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References

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	<!---Place all category tags here-->		<!---Place all category tags here-->
	[[Category~~:LII~~:Guides, white papers, and other publications]]		[[Category:Guides, white papers, and other publications]]

Shawndouglas: /* Project planning */

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Project planning

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	[[File:~~Fig6~~ Liscouski ConsidAutoLabProc21.png\|650px]]		[[File:Fig7 Liscouski ConsidAutoLabProc21.png\|650px]]
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	{\|		{\|

Shawndouglas: Shawndouglas moved page LII:Considerations in the Automation of Laboratory Procedures to Portfolio:Considerations in the Automation of Laboratory Procedures without leaving a redirect: Namespace change

2024-06-20T02:54:13Z

Shawndouglas moved page LII:Considerations in the Automation of Laboratory Procedures to Portfolio:Considerations in the Automation of Laboratory Procedures without leaving a redirect: Namespace change

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Revision as of 19:54, 19 June 2024

Shawndouglas: 25 revisions imported: Importing my work from LIMSwiki, using the same CC license

2024-06-18T15:43:58Z

25 revisions imported: Importing my work from LIMSwiki, using the same CC license

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	That brings us to an evaluation of the process as a whole, as well as an examination of the individual steps in the procedure. As shown in Figure 1, automation can be done in one of two ways: automating the full process or automating individual steps. Your choice depends on several factors, not the least of which is your comfort level and confidence in adopting automation as a strategy for increasing productivity. For some, concentrating on improvements in individual steps is an attractive approach. The cost and risk may be lower and if a problem occurs you can always backup to a fully manual implementation until they are resolved.		That brings us to an evaluation of the process as a whole, as well as an examination of the individual steps in the procedure. As shown in Figure 1, automation can be done in one of two ways: automating the full process or automating individual steps. Your choice depends on several factors, not the least of which is your comfort level and confidence in adopting automation as a strategy for increasing productivity. For some, concentrating on improvements in individual steps is an attractive approach. The cost and risk may be lower and if a problem occurs you can always backup to a fully manual implementation until they are resolved.

	Care does have to be taken in choosing which steps to improve. From one perspective, you’d want to do the step-wise implementation of automation as close to the end of the process as possible. The problem with doing it earlier is that you may create a backup in later stages of the process. Optimizing step 2, for example, doesn’t do you much good if step 3 is overloaded and requires more people, or additional (possibly unplanned) automation to relieve a bottleneck there. In short, before you automate or improve a given step, you need to be sure that downstream processing can absorb the increase in materials flow. In addition, optimizing all the individual steps, one at time, doesn’t necessarily add up to a well-designed full system automation. The transition between steps may not be as effective or efficient if the system were evaluated as a whole. If the end of the process is carried out by commercial instrumentation, the ability to absorb more work is easier since most of these systems are automated with computer data acquisition and processing, and many have auto-samplers available to accumulate samples that can be processed automatically. Some of those auto-samplers have built in robotics for common sample handling functions. If the workload builds, additional instruments can pick up the load, and equipment such as [[Baytek International, Inc.\|Baytek International’s]] TurboTube<ref name="BaytekiPRO">{{cite web \|url=https://www.baytekinternational.com/products/ipro-interface/89-products \|title=iPRO Interface - Products \|publisher=Baytek International, Inc \|accessdate=05 February 2021}}</ref> can accumulate sample vials in a common system and route them to individual instruments for processing.		Care does have to be taken in choosing which steps to improve. From one perspective, you’d want to do the step-wise implementation of automation as close to the end of the process as possible. The problem with doing it earlier is that you may create a backup in later stages of the process. Optimizing step 2, for example, doesn’t do you much good if step 3 is overloaded and requires more people, or additional (possibly unplanned) automation to relieve a bottleneck there. In short, before you automate or improve a given step, you need to be sure that downstream processing can absorb the increase in materials flow. In addition, optimizing all the individual steps, one at time, doesn’t necessarily add up to a well-designed full system automation. The transition between steps may not be as effective or efficient if the system were evaluated as a whole. If the end of the process is carried out by commercial instrumentation, the ability to absorb more work is easier since most of these systems are automated with computer data acquisition and processing, and many have auto-samplers available to accumulate samples that can be processed automatically. Some of those auto-samplers have built in robotics for common sample handling functions. If the workload builds, additional instruments can pick up the load, and equipment such as [[Vendor:Baytek International, Inc.\|Baytek International’s]] TurboTube<ref name="BaytekiPRO">{{cite web \|url=https://www.baytekinternational.com/products/ipro-interface/89-products \|title=iPRO Interface - Products \|publisher=Baytek International, Inc \|accessdate=05 February 2021}}</ref> can accumulate sample vials in a common system and route them to individual instruments for processing.

	Another consideration for partial automation is where the process is headed in the future. If the need for the process persists over a long period of time, will you eventually get to the point of needing to redo the automation to an integrated stream? If so, is it better to take the plunge early on instead of continually expending resources to upgrade it?		Another consideration for partial automation is where the process is headed in the future. If the need for the process persists over a long period of time, will you eventually get to the point of needing to redo the automation to an integrated stream? If so, is it better to take the plunge early on instead of continually expending resources to upgrade it?

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	There are two reasons that these systems are attractive. First, they provide for a rigorous execution of a process with each step being logged as it is done. Second, that log provides a regulatory inspector with documented evidence that the work was done properly, making it easier for the lab to meet any regulatory burden.		There are two reasons that these systems are attractive. First, they provide for a rigorous execution of a process with each step being logged as it is done. Second, that log provides a regulatory inspector with documented evidence that the work was done properly, making it easier for the lab to meet any regulatory burden.

	Since the initial development of SmartLab, that product has changed ownership and is currently in the hands of [[Dassault Systèmes SA\|Dassault Systèmes]] as part of the BIOVIA product line. As noted above, LIMS and ELN vendors have incorporated similar functionality into their products. Using those features requires “scripting” (in reality, software development), but it does allow the ability to access the database structures within those products. The SmartLab software needed programmed interfaces to other vendors' LIMS and ELNs to gain access to the same information.		Since the initial development of SmartLab, that product has changed ownership and is currently in the hands of [[Vendor:Dassault Systèmes SA\|Dassault Systèmes]] as part of the BIOVIA product line. As noted above, LIMS and ELN vendors have incorporated similar functionality into their products. Using those features requires “scripting” (in reality, software development), but it does allow the ability to access the database structures within those products. The SmartLab software needed programmed interfaces to other vendors' LIMS and ELNs to gain access to the same information.

	====What does this have to do with automation?====		====What does this have to do with automation?====

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	====What does this have to do with automation?====		====What does this have to do with automation?====
	When we think about automated systems, particularly full-automation with robotic support, it is a programmed process from start to finish. The samples are introduced at the start, and the process continues until the final data/information is reported and stored. These can be large scale systems using microplate formats, including tape-based systems from Douglas Scientific<ref name="DouglasScientificArrayTape">{{cite web \|url=https://www.douglasscientific.com/Products/ArrayTape.aspx \|title=Array Tape Advanced Consumable \|publisher=Douglas Scientific \|accessdate=04 February 2021}}</ref>, programmable autosamplers such as those from [[Agilent Technologies, Inc.\|Agilent]]<ref name="Agilent1200Series">{{cite web \|url=https://www.agilent.com/cs/library/usermanuals/Public/G1329-90012_StandPrepSamplers_ebook.pdf \|format=PDF \|title=Agilent 1200 Series Standard and Preparative Autosamplers - User Manual \|publisher=Agilent Technologies \|date=November 2008 \|accessdate=04 February 2021}}</ref>, or systems built around robotics arms from a variety of vendors that move samples from one station to another.		When we think about automated systems, particularly full-automation with robotic support, it is a programmed process from start to finish. The samples are introduced at the start, and the process continues until the final data/information is reported and stored. These can be large scale systems using microplate formats, including tape-based systems from Douglas Scientific<ref name="DouglasScientificArrayTape">{{cite web \|url=https://www.douglasscientific.com/Products/ArrayTape.aspx \|title=Array Tape Advanced Consumable \|publisher=Douglas Scientific \|accessdate=04 February 2021}}</ref>, programmable autosamplers such as those from [[Vendor:Agilent Technologies, Inc.\|Agilent]]<ref name="Agilent1200Series">{{cite web \|url=https://www.agilent.com/cs/library/usermanuals/Public/G1329-90012_StandPrepSamplers_ebook.pdf \|format=PDF \|title=Agilent 1200 Series Standard and Preparative Autosamplers - User Manual \|publisher=Agilent Technologies \|date=November 2008 \|accessdate=04 February 2021}}</ref>, or systems built around robotics arms from a variety of vendors that move samples from one station to another.

	Both LES and the automation noted in the previous paragraph have the following point in common: there is a strict process that must be followed, with no provision for variation. The difference is that in one case that process is implemented completely through the use of computers, as well as electronic and mechanical equipment. In the other case, the process is being carried out by lab personnel using computers, as well as electronic and mechanical lab equipment. In essence, people take the place of mechanical robots, which conjures up all kinds of images going back to the 1927 film ''Metropolis''.{{efn\|See [[wikipedia:Metropolis (1927 film)\|''Metropolis'' (1927 film)]] on Wikipedia.}} Though the LES represents a step toward more sophisticated automation, both methods still require:		Both LES and the automation noted in the previous paragraph have the following point in common: there is a strict process that must be followed, with no provision for variation. The difference is that in one case that process is implemented completely through the use of computers, as well as electronic and mechanical equipment. In the other case, the process is being carried out by lab personnel using computers, as well as electronic and mechanical lab equipment. In essence, people take the place of mechanical robots, which conjures up all kinds of images going back to the 1927 film ''Metropolis''.{{efn\|See [[wikipedia:Metropolis (1927 film)\|''Metropolis'' (1927 film)]] on Wikipedia.}} Though the LES represents a step toward more sophisticated automation, both methods still require:

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	===What equipment would we need for automated processes, and will it be different that what we currently have?===		===What equipment would we need for automated processes, and will it be different that what we currently have?===
	This is an interesting issue and it directly addresses the commitment labs have to automation, particularly robotics. In the early days of lab automation when Zymark (Zymate and Benchmate), [[PerkinElmer Inc.\|Perkin Elmer]], and Hewlett Packard (ORCA) were the major players in the market, the robot had to adapt to equipment that was designed for human use: standard laboratory equipment. They did that through special modifications and the use of different grippers to handle test tubes, beakers, and flasks. While some companies wanted to test the use of robotics in the lab, they didn’t want to invest in equipment that could only be used with robots; they wanted lab workers to pick up where the robots left off in case the robots didn’t work.		This is an interesting issue and it directly addresses the commitment labs have to automation, particularly robotics. In the early days of lab automation when Zymark (Zymate and Benchmate), [[Vendor:PerkinElmer Inc.\|Perkin Elmer]], and Hewlett Packard (ORCA) were the major players in the market, the robot had to adapt to equipment that was designed for human use: standard laboratory equipment. They did that through special modifications and the use of different grippers to handle test tubes, beakers, and flasks. While some companies wanted to test the use of robotics in the lab, they didn’t want to invest in equipment that could only be used with robots; they wanted lab workers to pick up where the robots left off in case the robots didn’t work.

	Since then, equipment has evolved to support automation more directly. In some cases it is a device (e.g., a balance, pH meter, etc.) that has front panel human operator capability and rear connectors for computer communications. Liquid handling systems have seen the most advancement through the adoption of microplate formats and equipment designed to work with them. However, the key point is standardization of the sample containers. Vials and microplates lend themselves to a variety of automation devices, from sample processing to auto-injectors/samplers. The issue is getting the samples into those formats.		Since then, equipment has evolved to support automation more directly. In some cases it is a device (e.g., a balance, pH meter, etc.) that has front panel human operator capability and rear connectors for computer communications. Liquid handling systems have seen the most advancement through the adoption of microplate formats and equipment designed to work with them. However, the key point is standardization of the sample containers. Vials and microplates lend themselves to a variety of automation devices, from sample processing to auto-injectors/samplers. The issue is getting the samples into those formats.