Stop Asking for Referrals

Posted on August 11, 2008 By Corinne Jones Blog

Posted from the LIMSexpert.com In order to acquire a viable LIMS you will either have to build or buy one (see here for discussion on build versus buy costs). If you choose the 'buy' route you will be confronted with bewildering choices, a variety of costs, and a smattering of options. You will also, invariably, run across LIMS pundits who offer this advice -- seek references before buying a LIMS. It is so popular and so often repeated that we take for granted that it must be true. But this advice on its face is a bunch of nonsensical bunk. If you would like to know why, please read further.

Server and Desktop virtualization is a key technology for Enterprise LIMS Deployment

Posted on July 30, 2008 By LabLynx Blog

VMware provides some key technologies that allow organizations to virtualize both server and desktop resources. Virtualization is a technology that can be used to level the playing field between web browser based applications and traditional Windows applications. Listen to the podcasts provided to learn more about virtualization.

Using Document control software to comply with ISO requirements

Posted on July 14, 2008 By Corinne Jones Blog

The objective of a document control software system is to make sure that good manufacturing methods are recorded and improved on. ISO standards require that the process and the documentation directing the manufacturing methods, and any changes to them, are restricted to authorised personnel with any changes recorded for future examination. Therefore ISO certified organisations are required to have a system for controlling the changes to their documents.

The Gap Between LIMS Capabilities and Environmental Monitoring Needs

Posted on July 14, 2008 By Corinne Jones Blog

While laboratory tests are an important part of Environmental Monitoring (EM) operations, the EM workflow is complex and the EM workplace presents a unique set of challenges. Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) LIMS products bring a wide range of functions to help automate the analytical laboratory, but struggle to meet the unique challenges of the EM operation. This paper reviews the workflow typically found in EM operations to identify the needs of the EM organization. It matches the capabilities of commercial LIMS to these needs, and discusses the LIMS customizations that would be required to close these gaps. It also discusses two alternative approaches to building an interface between an EM-specific product, such as MODA-EM, and a commercial LIMS.

The Benefits of Hosted Software

Posted on July 14, 2008 By Corinne Jones Blog

Hosted software, also known as on-demand software or software as a service, is ideally suited for small and medium sized companies (SMEs) with small IT staffs as it centralises the tasks of maintaining and updating the applications while spreading the costs over a broad user base.