Retisoft Inc

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Advice for Implementing Top Quality Lab Automation

Choosing appropriate automation systems can be difficult, especially if you’re unsure what your implementation strategy should be. While process automation solutions might seem best-fitting for medium or large-sized laboratories, smaller operations have increasingly grasped the implementation concept, becoming formidable robotic process automation companies.

Top-quality lab automation takes on multiple forms, from using automated analyzers that form a system by themselves or a seamless tracking system to connect different systems. Furthermore, automation has a wider range than ever before, reaching research labs that previously didn’t think automation could be integrated successfully into their workflows. When choosing appropriate automation systems, it’s essential to keep these factors in mind to ensure smooth implementation.

Engaging Lab Staff From The Outset

Choosing the right automation systems, scheduling control software, and instruments creates process automation solutions that benefit lab staffers by reducing their exertions and ensuring they are more productive with their efforts. Additionally, top-quality lab automation reduces the potential for human error, allowing lab staff to be more precise in their daily efforts.

Because lab automation can be beneficial to staff, lab technicians need to get staffers involved from the outset, ensuring that they are aware of all the lab project objectives and collaborating to eradicate potential obstacles during implementation. Additionally, it’s essential to jointly set goals with staff, such as reducing turnaround times, putting reagents and sample on the automated systems, and streamlining front-end processes to ensure samples are properly introduced to the systems in the timeliest manner possible.

Source- https://retisoft.com/advice-for-implementing-top-quality-lab-automation/

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How to Choose a Robotic Plate Mover

Throughout your daily activities in the lab, having assembly equipment and  lab automation robots to help you with the heavy lifting pays dividends. Having a flexible robotic arm to assist you in the laboratory improves the productivity and timing of lab automation projects.

This robotic arm is used in various study fields, including exploration, e-health, and the reliability testing of manufactured products like smartphone screens. Labs and research and development (R&D) units rely on these robotic arms considerably to help them carry out essential tasks.

When choosing a robotic plate mover to aid you during your next project or task, these are the key elements to look for, so you get the most functional equipment at your disposal when you need it most.

Looking At The Degrees Of Freedom (DoF)

Robotic plate movers are assembly equipment that work best when they have optimal degrees of freedom (DoF). This is the specific number of axes a rigid body moves freely within a 3D space.

Robotic plate movers with six or seven DoF are particularly ideal, reaching any given point in that space, regardless of the orientation. A six DoF robotic plate mover, integrated with automation scheduling software can open a drawer and retrieve a plate in a nest and then close the door A seven DoF flexible robotic arm operates much like the human arm, replicating human arm motion, reaching inaccessible spots, and possessing more agility.

With more DoF, the robotic plate arm has more reach, meaning that the distance from the robot’s center to the fullest extension of the flexible robotic arm is long enough

Examine The Strength

After analyzing the DoF, it’s time to examine the reach and strength of the robotic plate mover. The strength includes the maximum payload, meaning how many heavy items it can carry at one time. For this type of flexible robotic arm/assembly equipment to work best, it needs to be able to move heavy objects with ease while also applying maximum force to an object. An optimally functioned robotic plate mover will have optimal strength. However, it’s important to point out that the higher the maximum payload is, the more inaccurate the plate mover will be.

Most laboratory processes do not require a great deal of arm payload to move plates from instrument nest to instrument nest. It’s best to acquire a robotic arm that meets or exceeds your minimum payload requirements.

Source- https://retisoft.com/how-to-choose-a-robotic-plate-mover/

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6 Aspects of Your Lab that Benefit from Automation

Whether process automation is part of your job description or not, there are ways you can benefit from it. Learn how process automation solutions can improve your lab.

Robotic process automation software companies are focusing on process automation solutions because they are the next big thing. Here are the benefits of process automation solutions that help to enhance your lab works:

Instruments Integrated With The LIMS & The LIS

The instruments integrated with the LIMS and the LIS are a perfect example of an integration that both enhance process automation and is process automation. This integration allows data generated from performing laboratory experiments to be automatically documented in the lab information system. At the same time, every process executed by every instrument is also documented in real-time. Such detailed documentation helps ensure compliance with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), which enables process automation software to take over once all aspects of quality control have been triple verified.

Instruments integrated with the LIMS and the LIS will allow for process automation with process automation software. Data generated in the lab can be automatically and securely documented into the process automation software, while process execution is simultaneously and securely documented into LIMS and LIS.

Integrated Software

Integrated software solutions will streamline process steps and reduce process variations, thus improving process yield and quality. With integrated software in place, process steps become easier to process and become more reliable.

Automated Liquid Handlers

Automated liquid handlers are process automation solutions designed to make manual processes more efficient. These process automation solutions improve accuracy and eliminate human error, thus increasing lab productivity while reducing costs. Your automated liquid handler should be integrated with your other process automation systems — including data management software for laboratory information management systems (LIMS) — to enhance process flow and generate increased process.

Custom Applications To Automate Lab Processes

Custom applications to automate lab processes, such as applications that help process APIs, oligos, and other small molecules, can save time and money in process development. With custom applications for process automation, you’ll avoid the cost of buying a pre-made solution from process automation software companies like Retisoft.

Source: https://retisoft.com/6-aspects-of-your-lab-that-benefit-from-automation/

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Automated Assembly Equipment in the Lab

Ever thought about assembly equipment? In the assembly process, lab automation equipment plays a major role. Assembly equipment includes robots, machine tools, and many other assembly tools used to assemble products in manufacturing processes across various industries. Any assembly work that is done by hand can potentially be automated.

When To Use Assembly Equipment

Assembly equipment is used to automate repetitive assembly tasks, freeing up employees for higher-level assembly tasks, increasing quality, and efficiency. Automated assembly equipment is widely implemented in automotive manufacturing, aerospace, consumer electronics assembly, and computer products assembly, among other related industries. It’s probably safe to say that most assembly automation equipment has been designed to increase assembly productivity and accuracy and improve ergonomics and worker safety for those who would otherwise perform manual assembly tasks.

Automation equipment can also include other types of equipment such as machine tools used to create precision parts or machine tools that are capable of cutting or creating holes in metal, wood, or plastic materials such as water jet or laser cutting machines.

Any assembly automation equipment would also likely include robotics and other assembly automation control system components such as sensors, actuators, controllers, and vision systems used in assembly automation equipment.

Automation Instead Of Manual Assembly

Assembly automation equipment is designed to perform tasks that would otherwise be performed by assembly workers performing assembly operations by hand or using hand tools such as welders, drills, and nippers. Assembly workers performing manual assembly tasks are exposed to ergonomic hazards that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). One of the greatest advantages of assembly automation equipment is its ability to reduce ergonomic risks for assembly employees while increasing productivity at the same time.

Source: https://retisoft.com/automated-assembly-equipment-in-the-lab/

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Is There a Thing as Too Much Scheduling Automation?

Large process improvement projects often start with process mapping — a detailed breakdown of how work flows through an organization. This process map is then used to identify problem areas and opportunities for improvement. Process scheduling software is included as one of the tools that can be implemented in process mapping exercises to help streamline critical processes.

Automation Software Advantages

Just like any tool utilized in process improvement initiatives, process scheduling software has its advantages, and it’s important that organizations understand these implications before proceeding with installation and implementation:

Throughout the process-mapping exercise, employees will probably become aware of problems involving tasks where too much time is spent on many manual repetitions; this could include printing forms or picking up parts from storage locations. Scheduling software streamlines these activities by making it possible to review, print, or process orders more quickly.

The process map will reveal process problems that may be caused by poor scheduling (e.g., employees are often busy with the wrong work at the wrong time). Fixing this problem involves using process scheduling software to schedule tasks in a way best suited for your organization’s individual needs and priorities. Once process mapping is complete, employees should fully understand their roles in completing their assigned tasks, which is why orientation and training on process automation must be offered to all involved parties after implementation.

Building capacity into processes can be difficult without process scheduling software. Workers might know how much time they need to process a certain number of orders, but if process mapping reveals that there are too many orders to process at one time, process scheduling software can be used to stagger the work and avoid bottlenecks.

Current process scheduling may not always meet customer service requirements. Process scheduling software is designed with the goal of optimizing your process so you can achieve results quickly and accurately.

Source: https://retisoft.com/is-there-a-thing-as-too-much-scheduling-automation/

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Reducing Errors with Lab Automation

If you are involved in lab work, then you are probably aware of the number of errors that can happen if care isn’t taken to prevent them. Mistakes are part of being human, but when lives are on the line, we can’t afford to make them. One of the first steps to reducing the number of issues in your lab to an absolute bare minimum, is to consider investing in laboratory automation solutions.

Why Is It Important?

According to a new study, medical error is the third-leading cause of mortality in the United States, trailing only respiratory sickness, cardiac disease, and cancer. Every year, more than 200,000 Americans die as a result of preventable harm in hospitals. Medical errors endanger patients and result in significant avoidable expenses, which are estimated to be over $17 billion per year in direct costs in the United States. Given that laboratory test results influence up to 70% of clinician decisions, the clinical laboratory has a significant role in reducing preventable medical errors, improving patient safety, and improving outcomes. Clerical errors and process errors also occur in research and GLP laboratories . Luckily, there are laboratory automation solutions for medical as well as research and GLP Labs

What Can Be Done?

Laboratory automation solutions can help labs meet their employee safety goals while also improving patient safety. Over the last decade, clinical laboratories have profited from the introduction of new technology and tools. With the increased adoption of fully automated robotics and sample-to-answer molecular platforms, automation has been making big strides. This automation can remove the most complex and error-prone elements of the diagnostic testing process and has allowed lab automation to expand beyond chemistry and move into virology, microbiology, and research. By investing in process automation solutions, you’ll be able to reduce your likelihood of error and help to keep your clients safe and employees happy.

Source: https://retisoft.com/reducing-errors-with-lab-automation/

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How Reproducible Data Occurs with Automation

Part of the excitement of science is when a result becomes reproductible. When the same outcomes are experienced through multiple iterations of the same test, new scientific approaches and conclusions are generated. However, this is only the case when the data is reproducible and valid, the likelihood of which can be increased with the use of automated scheduling software.

What Is Reproducibility?

When a scientific study or experiment is performed using the exact same method and the same materials, and the results that are obtained in every repeat experiment are consistent with those found in the initial experiment, the results are said to be reproducible.

In order for the repeat experiments to be accurate, the researchers must use the exact same methods and equipment as the original researchers. Variables that may affect the results must also be controlled to avoid misleading data variance. Accounting for every extraneous variable in an experiment is extremely difficult, leading to a small amount of uncertainty in any data collected.

In order for an experiment to be trusted and credible, it must be reproducible. Otherwise, it is likely to be dismissed by the scientific community.

How Can Reproducibility Be Enhanced?

There are several steps that can be taken to ensure an experiment is reproducible.

1. Use of automated scheduling software to reduce human error

2. All staff involved in the experiment must follow standardized procedures

3. All measurements must be accurately taken

4. Every piece of equipment should be tested against a baseline to ensure they are calibrated correctly.

5. All data should be effectively documented

6. Measurement of uncertainty should be calculated

Source: https://retisoft.com/how-reproducible-data-occurs-with-automation/

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The Advantages of a Collaborative Robot in the Lab Environment

Collaborative robots, also known as cobots, are a relatively new incarnation of manufacturing bot designed to work safely alongside humans rather than in their own space without the need for elaborate safety enclosures such as traditional robots. Cobots can improve work efficiency in the lab environment alongside human efforts to enhance the workflow. This characteristic is handy, especially in laboratories that might have limited floor space

Although they are not appropriate to fully replace laboratory workers, the use of this lab automation equipment can make physical work in the lab much easier. Several repetitive and mundane tasks need to be completed in the lab every day, making it the perfect environment for robotic automation. These tasks include pipetting, mixing solutions, and centrifuging tissue and cell samples.

Cobots have a two-link flexible robotic arm that mimics the movements of a human arm. They can retract and extend, making them useful for tasks that require reaching inside enclosures or picking up items to move them from one place to another.

Advantages Of Collaborative Robots

Easy To Program

The flexible robotic arm is easy to set up and takes very little time to program. Generally, it takes just a few hours to set them up, even for an inexperienced operator. This reduces deployment time and allows lab workers to spend more time performing more complex procedures in the lab, which enhances productivity in the lab environment.

Enhanced Efficiency

This automation equipment can perform iterative tasks with higher speed and with higher accuracy. This increases the rate at which many daily lab tasks are completed, boosting efficiency and workflow.

Source: https://retisoft.com/the-advantages-of-a-collaborative-robot-in-the-lab-environment/

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4 Things to Consider When Integrating Collaborative Robots

A workforce supported by collaborative robots (cobots) sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, but they’re a reality many companies can embrace today. Cobots are made to be cost-efficient and easy to program, even for small-batch productions, making them smart and agile accessories for companies of all sizes.

Some cobots, like a flexible robotic arm, can be programmed by employees on the line for simple tasks. Cobots are safe around humans, and they don’t need a lot of space or containment. However, if there is no containment, an expert should do a risk assessment to confirm that the Cobot’s placement aligns with local safety guidelines. For more complex lab automation robots, certified system integrators and authorized training centers, can guide your team through installation and validation.

If you are considering collaborative lab automation equipment, here are some things to consider.

1. Improve Staff Morale?

If an employee is constantly frowning or yawning on the job, it’s a good sign you’re ignoring their potential to add value to your company. Retisoft’s cobots can be integrated into numerous types of lab instruments and plate storage. The cobot can place labware in either a landscape or portrait instrument nest. It can perform these tasks repeatedly without ever taking a break. This helps reduce the mundane tasks your employees suffer from and allows their focus to be redirected to something more personally fulfilling.

Retisoft’s lab automation equipment can help stabilize “takt time” — a term used to describe the time needed for a specific process — and significantly reduce the time-per-task.

2. Free Up Staff To Do More Complex Tasks?

An efficient, flexible robotic arm can be programmed to perform mundane, repeated tasks that waste a human’s time. These tasks can include moving plates from storage to lab devices, dispensing reagents, transferring fluids, centrifuging sealing or unsealing plates or putting assay plates in detection devices such as spectrophotometers. Why, then, do we waste people’s time and talent having them do these easy tasks? It’s better to assign them to work that may be more complex and with more purpose.

Retisoft’s team of engineers can help you decide which cobot is right for your process and with the goal of reducing your labor costs.

Source: https://retisoft.com/4-things-to-consider-when-integrating-collaborative-robots/

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Driving Workflow Through Process Automation

Obtaining high accuracy and precision is essential in a lab setting, but it can often be difficult to achieve due to the large volume of procedures that scientists must undertake daily. These repetitive tasks can result in errors, wasted materials, or loss of time. Using automation scheduling software for laboratories, such as the programs provided by Retisoft, can remove these issues to enhance work efficiency in the lab.

How Automation Enhances Workflow

By using lab automation software, a number of areas can be improved.

Accuracy

Computer systems are less prone to errors. Automation programs will provide high-quality output data provided the input data is free of error. This leads to higher accuracy with test results, samples, and batch analyses.

Replicability/Precision

The ability to produce the same results in consecutive testing by using the same materials and methods is key to providing reliable research data. However, manually undertaking tasks introduce risks of human error. There may also be differences in technique and pipetting accuracy between the individual scientists within the lab, which can reduce the replicability of results.

Automating a number of procedures can increase replicability by removing the risk of error and reducing variation in results caused by human differences. It ensures consistency across data sets by standardizing all procedures and tasks.

For example, an assay that requires precise amounts of raw material can be more easily replicated using an automated system that dispenses exact volumes with every cycle. This way, the assay is performed in exactly the same way every time, removing difficulties with replication and reliability.

Reproducibility

Taking a procedure and replicating it in another lab to produce similar results is key to success within scientific research. It ensures high reliability and consistency from one lab to another and confirms whether or not the data that has been collected is accurate.

Source: https://retisoft.com/driving-workflow-through-process-automation/

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Improve Lab Data Effectiveness with Integrated Lab Automation

Every lab should want to optimize its operations and day to day workflow. Data is constantly being generated and stored and laboratories should implement strategies to manage that data more effectively. Labs that have implemented integrated automation systems into their practice have found that it significantly benefits their operations as well as data management. It is a key part of their long-term data handling plan.

Many of today’s laboratories have limited automation capacities that may only consist of a standalone instrumentation (such as a robotic liquid handler) or several small islands of integrated automated systems that have extremely limited workflow or data communication between each technology island. Current and future laboratories will depend more and more upon computers, integrated instruments and automation to perform many of the functions that lab staff perform. As a result, we can expect an increase in the need for laboratory automation systems.

Institutions can only move forward if management and technology providers work together in the planning and implementing of automation lab systems. Managers must see where automation fits within the lab’s informatics planning by looking at the complete technology life cycle. They need to do more than buying a “quick fix” product that only solves a single issue or process step or buy expensive instrumentation and automated systems that only solve half the issues and process needs. After all, you don’t want to get stuck having a system that requires further updating or replacement, as it did not meet the initial or future needs. There needs to be a shift away from isolated data stations and database systems to a more integrated and effective laboratory-wide data system.

Integrated Laboratory Automation And Data Key Three:

1. Implement procedures, systems and software that make data movement and sharing more achievable and efficient. This also means developing data interchange/communications standards through the entire lab process with automation software for laboratories.

2. Your laboratory management needs to implement and support policies and procedures that deliver the groundwork for automation systems. Until these policies and procedures are implemented , proper lab automated system design and selection may not be optimal.

3. Work with vendors and automation engineers that specialize in the technology and implementation of laboratory automation systems. Once the automation Engineers understand your science and process they can better recommend properly designed automated systems that will include the software needed to control your systems and efficiently handle the data. This can greatly improve the integration of your informatics/information environment.

4. A planned and organized approach can reduce costs and allow employees to work more effectively when the laboratory automation systems and associated software assist in operations.

5. We can assist in the development of labs where computerization/automation/software form the basic groundwork for the lab’s operations. This can be done at any lab, new or midway through development.

Source: https://retisoft.com/improve-lab-data-effectiveness-with-integrated-lab-automation/

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The Future of the Lab Automation Industry

Computer science, robotics, and research & development work continue to produce breakthroughs, resulting in real-world products that, only a few years ago, were the stuff of science fiction. What was once only a dream is quickly becoming possible as these advancements find their way into lab automation.

The Past

Automation and robotics got their start in the 1950s, and by the 1970s, robots were being used for high-capacity work in situations where repetitive tasks could be done faster and more efficiently by machines than by humans. These were mostly industrial robots, large six-axis one-armed machines that moved quickly and required their own separate space to prevent people from being injured. These sorts of robots were stationary due in part to their size, preventing them from becoming mobile.

Current State

In the past few decades, technology has advanced, and lab automation companies are now making small, modular robots that work alongside humans. These advances have enabled robotics to move from physically separated spaces into the general lab environment. At the same time, advancements in lab automation software have allowed these smaller robots to take on more varied tasks.

One of the most interesting developments, in terms of potential for future advancements, can be found in the field of collaborative robotics. These smaller robots are designed to work alongside humans and are bound to change the way labs function in the coming years.

Future

As we look to the future, we can expect to see the use of collaborative robotics expand. The near future will see an increase in modular robot use and advancements in software development that encourage more interactivity between modules.

Source: https://retisoft.com/the-future-of-the-lab-automation-industry/

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What To Consider When Automating Liquid Handling

If you are currently thinking about automating your liquid handling, it is best to look at your current manual processes to determine how and if it will be useful for you. Using automation software to improve your liquid handling can significantly streamline your workflow and improve manual procedures, but it helps first to have a reliable assay that you properly understand.

Determine What Is Essential

Using automation software, you can let robots take over some of the repetitive and tedious tasks that humans often spend copious amounts of time completing. When automating liquid handling, you should first determine what is essential.

As process automation software can improve reliability, decrease chances of human error, reduce costs, and create more time for data interpretation, you should outline which parts of your walkway could benefit most from automating liquid handling, while also preparing the walkway for a move to full automation in the future.

Consider How Your Needs May Change

Robotic process automation software may be precisely what your lab needs right now, but you must be thinking about the future. If you want your lab infrastructure to accommodate changing needs, it should be modifiable and reconfigurable to adapt to your workflow needs at specific times.

Consider optimizing your lab areas using automation software for specific tasks like sample preparation and DNA extraction while keeping in mind how you will integrate these with larger, more extensive liquid handling systems in the future.

Source: https://retisoft.com/what-to-consider-when-automating-liquid-handling/