Category: QLIMS as a Platform

QLIMS Business Intelligence – 2

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Welcome to the second part of our series on QLIMS Business Intelligence. In our previous article, we focused on Dashboards, Visualisations, and the powerful Kibana. In this second part of our QLIMS series, we will delve into the platform’s SaaS solution, maintenance, and development.

 

Accessing laboratory data has been a challenge due to outdated LIMS systems. But modern tools like Business Intelligence (BI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have made data science more accessible. QLIMS serves as a comprehensive tool to manage all laboratory data, and in this article, we’ll explore how its Business Intelligence capabilities help organizations convert data into knowledge.

QLIMS SaaS

 

The QLIMS SaaS solution seamlessly brings together the dozens of services offered by Amazon Web Services in their world-class data centres to offer a coherent LIMS solution to you. 

Get the low latency of CloudFront CDN, the security of Cognito User Pools, and the scaling of ECS Fargate powering up your lab. Then let OnQ Software take care of implementing and administering them. 

Some of the AWS technologies used by QLIMS include:

  • AWS CloudFront – accelerated content distribution from more than 200 global edge locations.
  • AWS ECS Fargate – scalable computing that requires more resources during times of heavy usage.
  • AWS RDS for Microsoft SQL Server.
  • AWS Elasticsearch Service – dedicated search engine for rapid navigation)

Development 

 

QLIMS is continuously developed by a team of full-time software engineers who follow the Agile methodology. Development tasks are prioritized based on user needs, with high-value features given top priority. Work is done in two-week sprints, which allows for greater responsiveness to changing customer needs. All new code undergoes rigorous manual and automated testing before deployment to ensure functionality and regression testing are thoroughly conducted.

 

Maintenance and Updates

 

QLIMS SaaS solution eliminates the need for customers or their IT teams to worry about maintenance tasks and software updates. Continuous updates are applied in a rolling manner, typically without any downtime. If planned downtime is necessary, it is scheduled outside of business hours. For enterprise customers, the system is separated at the infrastructure level, giving them complete control over planned upgrades and maintenance.

For more information you can access our QLIMS Business Intelligence brochure and contact our friendly team.

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QLIMS Business Intelligence – 1

OnQ Software - QLIMS Business Intelligence

 

Data has become an invaluable asset for organisations, including laboratory data.  However, accessing laboratory data has been a challenge so far because many LIMS applications rely on outdated technologies and systems. But with the advent of modern data analysis tools like Business Intelligence (BI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the field of data science has become more accessible. The primary function of QLIMS is to serve as a comprehensive tool to manage all laboratory data, serving as the single source of truth. In this blog article, we will explore QLIMS Business Intelligence which helps organisations to visualise the data and convert it into knowledge. This is the first part of our series on QLIMS BI. Stay tuned for the second part.

 

Dashboards and Visualisations 

 

QLIMS offers Business Intelligence dashboards and visualisations that are powered by Kibana, an open-source data visualisation and exploration platform. Kibana is capable of analysing and presenting data in various forms such as charts, graphs, maps, and tables. It will take your laboratory data to the next level in line with our core philosophy of empowering scientists.

 

No need to include your IT department for extracting data in an understandable format, these in-built tools help you to become the owner of your knowledge.

 

Also, dashboards can be used to analyse live data and give direct insights into laboratory operations. Enterprise customers can set up their own dashboards and visualisations. A short training will empower you to become more data-driven. 

For more information you can access our QLIMS Business Intelligence brochure and contact our friendly team.

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QLIMS Case Study: Baiada Poultry

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In this blog article, we will explore how QLIMS helped the laboratory in the food industry and overcame the challenges. Baiada is the force behind familiar names like Lilydale Free Range Chicken and Steggles. Baiada has been around for more than a century, and its dedication to providing reliable poultry products has remained constant throughout the years.

In order to deliver safe and consistent products, the company has stringent flock monitoring standards that rely on accurate serological and bacterial analysis on cooked and raw products, along with feed testing. With over 250,000 samples tested every year, speed, accuracy, and traceability are key for Baiada’s state-of-the-art quality assurance lab.

The challenge

Managing increased record keeping, especially when it involves large volumes of data, can be a daunting task for laboratories. As testing requirements become more complex, laboratories need to find new ways to handle the growing amount of data generated from testing activities. This can include everything from ensuring data accuracy to maintaining data privacy and security.

Baiada’s lab had traditionally managed its testing records using a Microsoft Access database developed internally. While this was sufficient for basic record keeping, the type and volume of flock monitoring analysis the team needed to conduct was becoming more complex and more resource intensive.

The solution

After looking at the various solutions on offer the team quickly determined that the QLIMS solution would be able to provide what Baiada needed in terms of custom build but for a reasonable price.

Rather than trying to integrate QLIMS into their existing database, the decision was made to start fresh with a brand-new system in order to give the team a solution that would be able to scale.

The process

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Expecting a long and involved implementation process, the team was pleased with how rapidly they were able to get up and running.

“The move to QLIMS was pretty quick. We had 2 weeks to play around with it, then we went live – that was it. We felt very confident in the system, and the team we had to support us. They are honestly good people, and they also know their stuff.”

The results

The biggest benefit, according to Anne-Marie Curle, Food Technologist and QS management at Baiada,

“Definitely saving time! In the old world, we received hundreds of handwritten QA testing submissions every week, which needed to be manually entered into our database. Now our processing plants are able to book their submissions directly into the QLIMS system. That’s freed up a staff member to be more hands-on on the bench, rather than tied up with paperwork.”

“We process anywhere from 500 samples a week – QLIMS has effectively freed up one and a half full-time staff members who we can now reallocate to more important jobs around the lab.”

To learn more about data migration, click here. To learn how QLIMS can benefit your laboratory, contact us.

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Advanced Stability Management with QLIMS

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Advanced stability management plays a crucial role in LIMS by ensuring product quality and safety. Companies in industries such as food and beverage and pharmaceuticals must conduct thorough stability studies to determine the shelf life and optimal storage conditions of their products. However, managing these studies can be a complex and time-consuming process, requiring a high level of organization and attention to detail.

 

Fortunately, the latest update to QLIMS’ Stability Manager offers a powerful solution that helps customers stay ahead of future needs. With enhanced stability management features, modern LIMS platforms provide laboratories with the ability to manage stability testing and storage with greater efficiency, accuracy, and control. In this blog post, we will explore how QLIMS provides advanced stability management.

 

A completely new Stability Dashboard keeps track of all activities and gives the users and lab management an inside view of the active studies, all on one screen.

OnQ Software - QLIMS Business Intelligence

QLIMS’ latest update to its Stability Manager keeps our customers ahead of future needs.

  • Different protocols can be set up to be used within stability schedules.
  • Once approved, samples are scheduled to be pulled.
  • Resource planning can be made as QLIMS automatically sets up calendar events for the scheduled workload.
  • Once the scheduled date arrives the samples become active for result entry.
OnQ Software - QLIMS Business Intelligence

If you’re interested in learning more about how LIMS can benefit your laboratory or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team of experts would be happy to assist you in finding the best solution for your laboratory needs.

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QLIMS Case Study: Garvan Institute Of Medical Research

OnQ Software - QLIMS Business Intelligence

The Garvan Institute of Medical Research is a leading medical research institute in Australia, employing over 700 scientists and support staff. Garvan researchers have established a cancer tumour testing service that is designed to detect mutations to help oncologists determine treatment strategies. To handle the increasingly large volumes of samples it is anticipating, a new laboratory information management system (LIMS) was needed. This case study highlights how QLIMS helped the laboratory overcome these challenges.

 

The Challenge

Some challenges may arise in sample traceability in laboratories. These could be implementation and integration, user errors, system errors, lack of training, maintenance and updates and data security.

Luke Hesson is the Laboratory Head of Cancer Diagnostics at Garvan. According to Luke, the challenge was to ensure that the lab would be able to cope with the sheer volume of samples—potentially 1000+ per year.

“We’ll need to know at any given point where every sample is in the testing process. Without a LIMS that would be incredibly challenging and prone to human error, which would have a flow-on effect on our clinical trials.”

 

While the Garvan Institute was already using a number of different LIMS, none of them was suitable. Fortunately, he had previous experience with OnQ Software through another lab at the Garvan Institute.

“They’ve always been incredibly responsive and helpful, so I felt they were tried and trusted. It turns out they had an off-the-shelf solution called QLIMS, that met around 75% of our requirements, with the flexibility to be effectively adapted for our needs.” he says.

 

The Solution

The solution provided for the automated import of data from various sources. Automatic patient report generation was a huge part of the solution. “We can now, at the click of a button, export all of the data into a report that can go to the clinician and patient. Not only are they incredibly accurate, but the reports also look great.”

 

Another key part of the solution required OnQ to design a tool to read a Health Level 7 (HL7) file.

Luke says, “HL7 is an international standard data encryption method that allows us to securely communicate sensitive patient information between labs. Because the first stage of the process involves receiving data from a SydPath pathology lab at St Vincent’s Hospital, the data is encrypted before we receive it. This solution streamlined our sample accessioning, making it much more efficient.”

 

The Results

Luke is delighted that the Garvan Institute has just received National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation with QLIMS.

“All of those key points needed to be addressed to the satisfaction of NATA so it’s reaffirmed the chain of information custody is accurate and secure. It’s absolutely critical for any clinical testing. And I believe that’s a direct result of the assistance we’ve had from OnQ in designing a LIMS that allows fidelity of chain of information custody.”

If you’re interested in learning more about how our QLIMS can benefit your laboratory or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team of experts would be happy to assist you in finding the best solution for your laboratory needs.

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The benefits of AWS for QLIMS customers

 

AWS (Amazon Web Services) brings significant benefits to QLIMS customers by providing a secure and scalable cloud-based infrastructure for comprehensive laboratory data management. With AWS, QLIMS users can enjoy easy access to their data from anywhere, powerful computing resources for data processing and a range of security and compliance features to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of their data.

 

How LIMS and AWS work together

 

AWS (Amazon Web Services) is a cloud computing platform provided by Amazon that offers a wide range of services for building and deploying various types of applications and services on the cloud.

AWS and LIMS can provide a powerful and flexible solution for laboratories to manage and analyse data more efficiently and effectively by working together. The AWS cloud platform enables powerful hosting and deployment, storing and managing data, and providing scalable computing resources for handling large amounts of data and processing requirements.

 

What AWS brings to QLIMS customers

 

The cloud-based nature of QLIMS means that laboratories can access their data anytime, anywhere, and from any device with an internet connection. AWS provides the underlying infrastructure and services that enable QLIMS to scale seamlessly to accommodate large data sets, as well as provide powerful computing resources for data analysis and processing.

 

Except for cloud-based hosting, data storage, management and computing power; AWS provides various security and compliance features that ensure that laboratory data is kept confidential with regulatory requirements such as ISO9001 and ISO27001.

 

QLIMS brings comprehensive laboratory management, powerful and flexible solutions to OnQ customers. Laboratories can benefit from the reliability, enhanced security, flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness of cloud computing, while also ensuring the high availability and security of their data and applications.

 

If you’re interested in learning more about how QLIMS can benefit your laboratory or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team of experts would be happy to assist you in finding the best solution for your laboratory needs.

 

 

 

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How QLIMS is Revolutionizing Your Laboratory: Interview with Jonathan from OnQ Software – PART 3

Vision and Mission

Vision and Mission

 

A Bold Vision For a Significant Mission

 

Interviewer: You’ve shared a lot about your philosophy and core values behind developing and evolving your QLIMS into Version 9. If you were to summarize this vision in one sentence, what would be your mission statement?

Jonathan: Our mission is to bring innovation to the scientific community that empowers every scientist to improve outcomes for humanity for a better life.

Interviewer: You have a bold mission but a significant one. How can scientists embark on this journey with you, and what would be your advice to take that first step?

Jonathan: Pick up the phone and give us a call. That way, we can start looking at what your lab is doing now, its goals and your pain points. If I can figure that out on the call with you, we have taken that first step together and started that journey towards making your lab a better place to work for you.

We may not be the right solution for everybody, or you might not need all of our services. But if we at least help you get to the point where you understand what you’re trying to achieve, then you can look at what you need to bring in to help you get there.

Interviewer: Great, I think people reading this interview now know their next immediate action if they want to make a difference in their lab.

First, looking at what they are doing daily, Then identifying what’s frustrating them and causing their pain, Third asking themselves why they are doing what they’re doing, and finally, going through the process of understanding what they want to achieve.

Jonathan: Literally, just give us a call. Call me, call Ron, and we’ll get to the bottom of it.

The journey to improving your lab informatics starts with that first phone call and talking about your pain points and headaches today. What are you spending your time on? What are they trying to achieve? What are you doing to get there? If I can figure that out on the call with you, we have taken that first step together and started that journey towards making your lab a better place to work for you.

 

A Final Piece of Advice

 

 

Technology is one of three critical factors for a successful lab. The second is the processes, and the third is the people. Only when all three align can you start the journey to a successful lab.

 

 

Interviewer: Brilliant, that’s very good. Then my last question. Is there anything I did not ask during our interview that you would like to share with us before the end?

Jonathan: Yes, if I can leave readers with one last piece of advice: technology is one of three critical factors for a successful lab. The second is the processes, and the third is the people. Only when all three align can you start the journey to a successful lab.

 

 Get in touch with us today to learn more about how QLIMS can help you achieve your goals.

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How QLIMS is Revolutionizing Your Laboratory: Interview with Jonathan from OnQ Software – PART 2

QLIMS Logo

QLIMS Logo

 

OnQ Software has a special interview with Jonathan Gannoulis that focuses on the journey to releasing the QLIMS platform. In part one, we got an inside look at the introduction, initial stages, and journey that led to the creation of QLIMS.

 

In part two, we will dive into how OnQ Software translated its principles into a product, resulting in a LIMS system that revolutionizes laboratory management. 

 

 

Translating Principles Into a Product

 

Interviewer: I think we now understand why you are doing this. Now please tell us more about your product and the solution itself. How are you translating this into the new product?

Jonathan: We offer LIMS as a Platform, not just an app. Laboratories are moving towards a suite or platform of informatics, not just LIMS.

LIMS, data management and automation is the starting point. We base our entire application on our API technology. QLIMS is a containerized application that allows us to safely put things in little containers, pull apart and add elements or swap out and bring in other elements. The flexibility turns our application into a solution you can now lay over a platform to address complex scientific challenges as our customers’ needs evolve.

Interviewer: Just to clarify for our audience, an API is typically an application programming interface. Is your API what this is, and could you please explain what your API is?

Jonathan: It stands for an application programming interface. It is fundamentally a safe and secure toolkit that lets QLIMS talk to other applications. Our difference is that we built the whole application on this API, so there’s no real restriction to what you can do with QLIMS. Users can access it themselves and build web extensions, for example, mobile tools and integration. People are genuinely empowered to take the LIMS where they want it to be.

 

Importance of Independent Configuration

 

Interviewer: When scientists approach you with complex problems, they know they can solve them with your API-based architecture. They know they have a flexible toolbox to solve these problems. Whereas with other more rigid applications, it would be more challenging, right?

Jonathan: Yes. Even small changes are classified as customisation, so you need to change the code of the core application, which in turn creates more overheads. Not only does our solution have the API described, but we’ve also brought into our solution powerful configuration tools. This ability alone reduces the level of customization effort required close to zero depending on your specific needs. People working in the lab configure the system to suit what they want to do and then manage the system independently on an ongoing basis. Without hiring extra staff for LIMS admin. Without needing a coding degree.

 

 

We have the platform to empower every scientist. Less admin work and focus on the science, the important work.

 

 

Interviewer: I think I’m starting to see a better picture of the situation you are describing. It seems that the customization piece itself has also been part of why the industry has not evolved into offering more self-enabling systems. Suppose billable consultant hours are part of the business model. In that case, vendors have very little incentive to design a system that allows customers to customize independently.

Jonathan: Pretty much, we are a technology company, not a professional services company. This focus makes a difference to the end solution. We have the platform to empower every scientist. Less admin work and focus on the science, the important work.

 

 Get in touch with us today to learn more about how QLIMS can help you achieve your goals.

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How QLIMS is Revolutionizing Your Laboratory: Interview with Jonathan from OnQ Software – PART 1

OnQ Software - QLIMS Business Intelligence

 

Are you ready to discover the journey that led to the release of the ground-breaking QLIMS platform? We’re excited to bring you an exclusive interview with Jonathan from OnQ Software, where he discusses the company’s journey to creating a platform that is both functionally competent and technically advanced. We’ll be sharing the interview in three parts, each highlighting a critical aspect of the QLIMS platform!

 

Today, in part one, we will get an inside look at the introduction, initial stages, and journey that led to the creation of QLIMS. Stay tuned for more details and insights into the journey behind the creation of QLIMS!

 

 

The laboratory informatics space has been challenged to create a functionally competent and technically advanced LIMS. R&D and QA/QC laboratories are trying to solve this complex problem. At this point, the AI-based model disrupts the old approach to LIMS and enables a configuration that is driven by the user and operates independently.

OnQ Software has a special interview with Jonathan Gannoulis that focuses on the journey to releasing the QLIMS platform.

 

I saw applications that couldn’t even scale for new requirements. Basically, companies continue paying vast sums of money for legacy systems.

 

Initial Idea

 

Interviewer: I want to start by talking with you about how you came up with the idea to create the new Version 9. What was the driving motivation behind creating the new Version 9?

Jonathan: Make the most functionally competent and technically advanced LIMS with the best user experience. The first thing that struck me with LIMS and laboratory informatics was how old and unusable the systems seemed. Basically, companies continue paying vast sums of money for legacy systems. Scientists are among the most brilliant people in your organization. You want them to be empowered. Digitisation in the lab eventually spreads into all areas of the organisation. This positive change enables the organisation to make more confident data-driven decisions.

 

We promote values in our company that align with our customers. The office whiteboard has written on it, “Quality is not an act, it is a habit”, Aristotle. We work in quality control at the end of the day.

 

 

The Journey

 

Interviewer: What did the journey look like to re-invent the concept of LIMS?

Jonathan: It’s been a long journey with our team, customers, and prospects. In workshops, we’ve been going back to our customers and asking questions all the time. This method is the only effective way to find out the true user experience of each person. We don’t want to be in a situation where our customers need AI, or voice recognition, for example, and our platform can’t support them. We want to be there offering it first.

Interviewer: That sounds like you have been applying Lean Management principles to your business consistently. How has that influenced your philosophy behind developing products? And how do you ensure you are continually applying lean management principles such as the five whys at your company?

Jonathan: It is a great strategy to ask the five why’s to get down to the core of a problem. We use this approach to help us clear out a lot of the background noise. Once we find that root cause, we move forward with confidence.

We promote values in our company that align with our customers. The office whiteboard has written on it, “Quality is not an act, it is a habit”, Aristotle. We work in quality control at the end of the day.

 

 

 Get in touch with us today to learn more about how QLIMS can help you achieve your goals.

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QLIMS Family is Growing, Welcome Sealy

We are happy to announce that we will be working with Sealy of Australia to implement QLIMS in their state-of-the-art laboratory.
Sealy conducts research and testing of new components, materials and construction methods in the largest NATA-accredited mattress research and development facility in the southern hemisphere. This provides the foundation for new innovation and unmatched product performance.
We are excited to see the results that our collaboration will bring, and we look forward to supporting them.
Sealy Australia Team

Sealy Australia Team

If you’re interested in learning more about how LIMS can benefit your laboratory or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team of experts would be happy to assist you in finding the best solution for your laboratory needs.

 

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