Accelerated Technology Laboratories (ATL) and Microsoft have announced details of their 2009 Laboratory Information Management System (Lims) seminar tour.
The seminars - which will take place at Microsoft facilities across the country - will focus on why a Lims is key to streamlining laboratory operations and staying compliant.
The lunch events will explore the current challenges that are faced in the modern laboratory and demonstrate how organisations are automating operations to increase productivity and data quality while reducing operational costs.
These events are aimed at laboratory operations or QA/QC managers in the following industries: water/wastewater; environmental (air/water/soil); agriculture; chemical; food and beverage; life sciences; and government (public health).
Seminars will be held in: Honolulu, Hawaii, on 20 February; Chicago, Illinois, on 12 March; Charlotte, North Carolina, in April; Orlando, Florida, in May; Boston, Massachusetts, in June; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in July; San Francisco, California, in September; Dallas, Texas, in October; Houston, Texas, also in October; Seattle, Washington, in November; and Nashville, Tennessee, in December.
They will cover considerations in the selection of a Lims to streamline laboratory operations, improve data quality, eliminate mundane tasks and maintain regulatory compliance.
These include: streamlining sample login utilising barcode technology; automatically sending e-mail alerts based on user-configured QC limits; Lims integration with instruments to eliminate data transcription errors; and automated reporting via fax, e-mail or printing (final analysis reports, certificates of analysis, backlog reports and so on).
The seminars will also consider: updates on the latest advances in mobile technology that allows field personnel to capture sample data and easily synchronise with the Lims; an understanding of the growing importance of integration with enterprise systems (financial/accounting or ERP); examples of how organisations are using their Lims to automate processes and improve product quality, turnaround times and regulatory compliance metrics; and how laboratory automation solutions can help organisations to thrive in a competitive market.
Another focus for this year's Lims seminar tour will be on introducing ATL's next-generation Lims, which is targeted for release later in 2009.
This product will offer a number of advances such as new task wizards: tools that walk a user through common tasks such as adding a user or customer.
Enhancements in the area of Lims administration, security and reporting services are also key differentiators for the product.
