process analysis & automation


Process Analysis & Automation

Maximizing Investment Automated solutions of technology platforms

Malcolm Crook


Introduction

• Who are PAA• Why do we automate ?• How do you automate ?• What can we automate ?


Who are Process Analysis & Automation ?

• Incorporated in 1992• Software supplier, OVERLORD• Offer systems integration services• Independent automation supplier• Experienced in multi-vendor platforms

• GE/Thermo/Beckman/Caliper • Drivers for 75+ manufacturers, 220+ instruments

• Unique software solutions• Tried and tested, over 350 sold worldwide


Laboratory Automation Experience

1986 1988 1995

1998 2004


Why do we automate ?

• Speed• Reliability

• Small workstations

• Extend instrument operating hours• Cost effective analysis• Data and sample tracking


How do we automate ?

1. Specification• What, where, when, why & how ?• “by next month”, “flexible”• URS, FDS, FAT, SAT• Data handling requirements• System throughput

2. Hardware list

3. Integration software


1. Specification

• User Requirement Specification (URS)• What do you want ?

• Functional Design Specification (FDS)• This what we are going to deliver

• Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)• Check it works before it ships

• Site Acceptance Test (SAT)• Check it still works after shipping


2. Hardware list

Plate manipulatorHigh content plate reader

Peripherals


Hardware for automation 1

Thermo RapidStak Caliper/Zymark Twister II


Hardware for automation 2

Mitsubishi range automate.it KiNEDx


Choice of automation

Simple system

Small number of plates

Plate move, plate read, barcode

Any

Thermo RapidStak most cost effective

Simple system

Large number of plates

Plate move, plate read, barcode

Caliper Twister II

Simple system

Small number of plates

Super reliability

Mitsubishi range of robots

Multiple instruments Caliper Twister II


3. Control Software

• Real-time scheduling• OVERLORD Workstation• Event driven

• Time-resolved scheduling• OVERLORD Scheduler• Time driven

Either


OVERLORD Workstation


OVERLORD Workstation Features

• PC based, Windows Windows 2000/Windows XP• Hierarchical control for laboratory automation• Very easy drag and drop setup• Icon based, flow chart interface• Full password and user identification (with 21CFR)• Reusable procedures• Constructs automatically to aid user


OVERLORD Workstation Benefits

• Simple, easy-to-use interface• If you can write a flow chart, OVERLORD is easy• Decisions• Can use the 220+ instrument drivers from the box• Feature to enhance functionality by using

Microsoft Visual Basic scripts


What do we automate ?

• Automated GE Healthcare Systems• LEADseeker

• Holland, UK• IN Cell 1000

• Denmark, France, Holland, Sweden, UK• IN Cell 3000

• Switzerland, UK, USA

• Other Automated Systems• Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Finland, France,

Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, UK, USA


LEADseeker

• ‘Black box’ on a serial port• Needs 2 PCs• Simple interface but slow for data transfer• Enhanced by incorporation of a LAN• Best suited to real-time scheduler

• Variable plate read times

Automation offers:• Operator free operation• Automated data file identification• Automated data file manipulation


with Thermo RapidStak


LEADseeker with Mitsubishi


IN Cell 1000

• Has native automation software• Involved interface but very robust• Best suited to real time scheduler

• Variable plate read times• Control issues with time-resolved scheduler



IN Cell 1000 with Twister II


IN Cell 3000

• Has native automation software• Involved interface but very robust• Must be the master• Unsuitable for control by time-resolved schedulers

• e.g. POLARA, Sprint, CLARA, SAMI



IN Cell 3000 with automate.it KiNEDx


What can OVERLORD offer customers ?

• What happens before the plate read ?• Automation expertise• Customer specific user interfaces

• What happens after the plate read ?• Data handling expertise• Post run data manipulation• Database interaction

• Installation expertise• Highly experienced installation team• All our installation engineers are also programmers


Conclusions

• Some equipment has labour intensive feed times

• Productivity is enhanced by automation

• Overnight operation of capital equipment

• Plate tracking is guaranteed by automation

process analysis & automation

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