Laboratory information management systems benefits

Computers have been used in laboratories since the mid-1960 s for administrative and managerial support tasks. Recent developments have emphasised the direct interfacing of computers with laboratory instruments and the automatic performance of clerical tasks. In a recent survey of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) in use in the UK [ISC92], 78% of respondents stated that instruments had been interfaced with computers in their laboratories. A breakdown by analyser and computer type is shown in Table 1. Improvement in laboratory efficiency and saving of staff time were perceived as major benefits. Efficient data retrieval, improved quality control and a greater availability of information for administrative and management purposes are major facilities provided by LIMS. 

Stein RR (1991) Evaluating the costs and benefits of laboratory information systems. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems Laboratory Information Management 13 15-36. 

Product flow data is enriched by irrformation from inspection institutes, laboratories and additional evalirations and analyses from supply chain partners to ensure validity and consistency of the stored information as well as deUvering secine additional data that rrsually is not accessible to the single partner of the supply chain. Supply chain partners add information for their input factors by combining data through the data management system (Fig. 20.5). As a result the benefits from participating in the network greatly exceed those that an in-house solution is able to deliver. 

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