Effective communications
System integration in the laboratory IT environment

Companies are taking a closer look at the provision of services in their production and research labs to identify new ways of improving efficiency and productivity. R&D labs in particular are under pressure to come up with improved products more quickly and to reduce failure rates. To create the basis for process optimization in the production environment, labs must continuously monitor QC data and furnish reports in a timely manner to the production department and other units within the company.

Highly-automated systems generate an unprecedented wealth of data in pharmaceutical research, but the value of the data often depends on how easily the information can be passed on and made available for analysis and use in the decision making process. Sophisticated data management tools have been developed to address this issue. Internet based technologies are the key to a successful integration strategy. Integration is a hot topic at today’s global companies. This is particularly true in the typical lab environment, where many different applications, instruments and systems generate raw data which are analyzed by scientific personnel. It is not unusual to find applications and systems in a company that perform the same functions but were supplied by different manufacturers.

Limiting factors for data acquisition
At a time when companies are beginning to harmonize their business processes and mission critical applications, there is an increasing need to find ways to integrate these systems. To exploit information throughout the enterprise, it is vital to merge information which is based on different technologies and available in different data formats. Department-specific, geographical and organizational barriers inhibit the effective dissemination of data and free access to information. Technologies that have been used in the past can also be a limiting factor for data acquisition and data management. Individual software applications tend to provide very high performance in stand alone operation, and they make use of process automation, simplified data access and data comparison to save time. Instrument data systems capture analytical data, and bio-information systems process biological data.
-LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems) are used to manage assays, orders, studies and projects.
-CIMS (Chemical Information Management Systems) record structures, and
-DMS (Document Management Systems) are used to manage work procedures (SOPs).
As these applications are often based on a proprietary format, it is often difficult to compare, disseminate and use the information which has been generated. Things become even more difficult when the information needs to be accessed simultaneously by more than one user at multiple locations. System integration traditionally concentrates on communications between different systems. The challenge today for a “standard” interface is to establish effective communications between a number of different systems in an enterprise.
There are many recognized methods of point-to-point integration which provide a way of exchanging information that was generated by different applications. Examples of this include programmable application interfaces, object request brokers, direct database access, reporting technologies and of course paper. The basic problem with the point-to-point approach to system integration is that changes made after the implementation has been completed are both expensive and difficult.
New methods based on established technologies
The Internet is undoubtedly the best example of a flexible, modern, expandable, integrated system. The Internet is essentially based on three different technologies. A combination of HTML, HTTP and URL led to the development of the first Web browser. These underlying technologies have delivered reliable performance for more than ten years. The eXtensible Markup Language (XML) is part of the HTML format. HTML can be used as a text format, but it cannot be used to interpret data. The need to send data over the Internet was one of the main reasons why XML was developed. Although both are sophisticated text files, HTML is used for the format and XML for the structure and content of the data. The distinguishing feature of XML is its ability to convey the meaning of the information. It provides a basis for the development and definition of standard formats. The formats can be used to exchange data without the need for in-depth knowledge of the applications which were originally used to generate the information. This was an important consideration for Thermo Electron Corporation during development of its state-of-the-art laboratory data management software.
Web services make use of a number of XML standards, and they are not tied to any platform. A company can use a Web service on the server platform of its choice and use the Web services of any other applications written in a different programming language.
The programs can be Web based or executed using thick clients. The only requirement is the ability to manipulate XML and send to an Internet address or an internal Intranet. Given this level of flexibility, it is not surprising that many companies would like to use XML-based Web services to integrate a large number of applications that are based on different technologies. However to achieve this, the approach taken must go beyond the mere
addition of Web services to existing applications to provide data access.
Despite the fact that making data available beyond geographical and company-specific borders has many advantages, this should not be confused with efficiency and productivity. To achieve that, you need genuine integration of the various systems which are used in a company.
The SampleManager 2004 LIMS
XML-based Web services are an essential part of the SampleManager 2004 LIMS, which Thermo released at the beginning of the year. This solution features a new architecture which provides powerful integration with other lab applications and systems, for example:
-ERP systems,
-chemical information databases,
-and document management solutions.
Web-based clients make it possible to use a hybrid Web interface to integrate systems at the client level. Users in different departments have standardized tools which they can use to integrate the parts of any system which are of interest to them. One example from the manufacturing environment could be visualization of process parameters from the production process and display of data trend analysis in a browser window. This information could be used to make material planning decisions based on LIMS authorization in an ERP system (e.g. SAP R/3). To summarize, point-to-point integration has proven to be too expensive and inefficient for use in comparison, processing and interpretation of data taken from various sources of information. Modern, flexible Web services can reduce the cost of system integration, facilitate data dissemination and increase interoperability to accelerate information-based decision making. If all the applications in an enterprise can be linked via a standard interface, it is a whole lot easier to add, upgrade or replace programs. An approach using systems of this type significantly increases a company’s flexibility, because data can be exchanged quickly and easily between the various programs and systems. Progressive suppliers of lab IT systems are using Web services as a part of their technology solutions.
Thermo’s LIMS, for example, uses a secure, SOAP-based architecture. Web services and XML technology along with corporate LIMS are about to revolutionize the way in which the lab is integrated with the rest of the company. This strategy gives companies better tools to improve time to market, achieve a quicker return on investment and gain a competitive advantage.