LIMS meets PIMS

A new software suite from Thermo Electron promises to integrate data from the quality control laboratory with systems monitoring production processes to allow operators to respond swiftly to any problems encountered.

Thermo's well-established SampleManager LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) has been adapted to allow it to communicate with some of the most widely-used PIMS (Process Information Management Systems).

This means that if a quality problem is detected in the lab, the information can be passed swiftly on to the process engineer in a plant who can then modify the production system to address the issue. For example, it may be that a simple change to a reactor's operating temperature can restore the integrity of the process.

The new package, called SampleManager PIMS 2003, is compatible with OSIsoft's PI (Plant Information) System, Honeywell's Uniformance PHD, and Yokogawa's Exaquantum. Thermo​ said it can also provide a means of integrating SampleManager LIMS with AspenTech's widely-used InfoPlus.21 PIMS.

This is a logical extension of an 'enterprise' LIMS product such as SampleManager - i.e. one that is specifically designed to service the needs of regulated industries. Thermo is among only a handful of companies whose LIMS offering can cope with the corporate demands of the pharmaceuticals and life science industries.

Once a sample has been logged and analysed for a pre-defined test in SampleManager, results can be sent to the PIMS in a secure manner. This enables a plant engineer or operator to analyse and track data trends, as well as make decisions about data from the different locations throughout the production process.

Information can also be sent directly from PIMS to SampleManager, eliminating the need for manually entering recorded information and any associated errors. This more tightly controlled process reduces product loss and improves productivity, claims Thermo.

While many of the LIMS companies originally targeted the drug discovery sector, observers believe that the greatest opportunity lies in the QC function, and Thermo's product development strategy fits with this view.

Meanwhile, Thermo's acquisition earlier this month of Laboratory Management Systems (LMSi​), an $11 million company specialising in validation and certification of laboratory instrumentation, also strengthens its services to the drug industry.