In today’s highly regulated research and production environment, it has become a mainstay to have a thorough and structured investigation process to identify the cause of a quality failure or nonconformity as well as avoid repetition. This is where a Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) manager becomes essential. But what is CAPA management? What are the benefits of the QLIMS CAPA Module? What are the steps of the CAPA process?

What is CAPA?

CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) is a module used in quality management to identify and correct problems in a company’s processes, products, or services. The goal of CAPA is to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. Effective implementation of CAPA helps organizations maintain high standards of quality and customer satisfaction, thus enhancing their reputation and competitiveness in the market.

Many people see CAPAs as a challenging task that must be completed just to stay compliant, but the CAPA manager should be viewed as an end-to-end system that provides the necessary tools to identify, evaluate and investigate incidents. In addition to them, CAPA is essential for implementing and checking the effectiveness of a resolution regarding quality control and regulation.

What is QLIMS CAPA Module and What are The Benefits of It?

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The QLIMS CAPA manager is designed to maintain Corrective and Preventative procedures for general incidents, sample parameters breaching specification and instrument failure incidents, while also integrating with the extensive capabilities of the QLIMS platform.

Here are the benefits of the CAPA Module;

Benefits of The CAPA Module

What are the steps of CAPA?

CAPA typically involves a structured and systematic approach to problem-solving, including the investigation of root causes, the development of corrective actions, and the implementation of preventive measures.

Here are the 5 steps of CAPA:

5 Steps of CAPA

If you have any further questions about our QLIMS, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to help and provide additional information.

Data management

Data migration has always been seen as a barrier to a laboratory information management system (LIMS). The process of transferring data from one system to another can be complex, challenging, and time-consuming. That is why organisations should carefully consider the data migration process when implementing a LIMS and ensure that all data is accurately transferred by an expert LIMS vendor.

OnQ Software understands the challenges that come with data migration and we have integrated with qcKen from ZIFO Rnd which is a revolutionary new tool that completely meets your needs. QLIMS and ZIFO are dedicated to making your lab’s digital transition as effortless and painless as possible.

The Pain Points of LIMS Data Migration

One of the most challenging tasks for laboratories could be migrating your data as it can present several difficulties,

• Complexity

Data migration can be a complex process that requires significant planning, resources, and expertise. This can be especially challenging for laboratories that have large amounts of data and/or complex data structures.

• Interruptions to operations

The process of migrating data can take significant time and resources and may require the temporary shutting down of systems and equipment, leading to interruptions in laboratory operations. This can be particularly disruptive to ongoing research projects and may cause delays in data analysis and publication.

• Data loss

During the migration process, there is a risk of data being lost, damaged, or corrupted, which can result in significant disruptions to laboratory operations and loss of valuable information.

• Data format conversion

Data migration often requires data to be converted from one format to another. This process can be complex and time-consuming and may result in compatibility issues and difficulty in retrieving or accessing certain data.

• Quality assurance

Ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the migrated data is difficult, the quality assurance process has to be implemented and is time-consuming to ensure the integrity of the data.

• Data security concern

Data migration comes with a high-security concern. As data is moving, it is vulnerable to unauthorized access, loss and breaches, therefore, special measures have to be implemented to secure the data.

• Costs

Data migration can be a costly process, involving the purchase of new hardware and software, as well as the hiring of specialized personnel to perform the migration.

For this reason, choosing the appropriate tools and having a detailed understanding of LIMS is essential for a successful migration.

qcKen Solution to Break the Data Migration barrier 

This is why OnQ Software is happy to have qcKen as an integration on the QLIMS platform. This integration will allow for streamlined data transfer for our customers. It’s worth mentioning that qcKen service is provided by ZIFO Rnd and OnQ is among the leading Laboratory Information Management Systems vendors that are able to offer this service for their clients. The solution’s primary objective is to assist customers in the establishment and maintenance of their master data during LIMS implementation and migrations.

The benefits provided by qcKen are;

• Ability to import, screen and check very large volumes of data,
• Migrate data from handwritten documents,
• Migrate directly from other LIMS databases.

Our tool allows you to easily integrate and transfer data from multiple sources, no matter the format or location, ensuring that all your valuable information is included in the migration process. qcKen can import data directly from any source documents such as Certificate of Analysis, Analysis Reports, Product Specifications, Worksheets, General Test Procedures and Standard Operating Procedures.

Analysts can easily examine and correct anomalies as needed by reading documents to create an RPA specification. The service uses machine learning to continually learn and improve conversion accuracy, and once the RPA is analyst-validated, qcKen’s Object Creation Engine takes over and creates objectives in QLIMS. So, our approach to implementation gives analysts an opportunity to focus on performing analysis.

But it’s not just about data transfer, qcKen also guarantees a smooth and fast transition, reducing the disruption to your lab operations. Previous research has demonstrated that qcKen can significantly decrease the duration of migrations from a typical timeframe of 40 days to only 2 days.

With qcKen, you can focus on what really matters: running your lab efficiently and effectively.

If you have any further questions about our solution qcKen or the data migration, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to help and provide additional information.

We are pleased to announce the addition of our new LES (laboratory execution system) functionality to the QLIMS platform further enabling Lab 4.0 and the paperless, digital laboratory.

The Laboratory Execution System (LES) functionality guides laboratory technicians through each step of a method to ensure correct and accurate SOP execution and captures the complete process history.

Driven by a combination of market demand and feature requests from our respected customers who want LES functions integrated directly to their existing laboratory workflows. This module is pragmatic, easy to use and efficient.

In regulated environments all steps of the analytical process needs to be documented. At the same time the LES helps the laboratory technicians work interactively through the processes of their standard operating procedure (SOP).

LES functionality can step in to help new employees or not laboratory personal to perform analytical activities in a controlled environment.

QLIMS LES Example

Together with our UK partner, Software 4 Labs, we will be attending the Lab Innovations conference this week, November 2nd and 3rd, at the NEC in Birmingham.

On our booth, G2, will be Ron Kessels and Frank Smith who have a wealth of knowledge and experience both as scientists and helping labs go digital through LIMS and informatics solutions.

At the show, the industry will meet to launch its products and innovations to the UK’s leading gathering of lab professionals, suppliers, and manufacturers. Lab professionals across all sectors will be able to discover sustainable lab initiatives, secure the latest tech, join exciting free conferences to earn CPD points and explore new ways of future-proofing labs. Supported by some of the UK’s top science institutions, it is a key event for powering the business of science.

For a sneak peak visit our virtual booth.

Lab Innovations 2022

Managing stability studies is becoming more important for all food & beverage companies as well as pharmaceutical-related businesses.

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.

 

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.

 











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What are the main questions on a Laboratory Manager, Laboratory Director, Quality Manager, COO and/or CFO’s mind which are asked of the laboratory?

There is operational reporting which is metrics related to how the laboratory is performing and useful to know on a regular basis. Examples may be turnaround time for testing and how many samples of what test are being processed.

Then there is what is often classified as management information which aims at informing manager’s of different aspects of the business to help them make better informed decisions. Often related to KPI’s and are the questions often asked by senior management on a Friday afternoon which is needed for a board meeting that afternoon or on Monday morning.

Without the need to access third party solutions, QLIMS Business Intelligence suite is designed to solve this problem and not only provide this information, but in an interactive and visually appealing dashboards that are easily filtered and interpreted. All from within your LIMS as it is the source of truth for laboratory and quality control data.

Here is an example to answer the question of where does my work come from?

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

Today we are bring to you a special in focus article about the journey to releasing the QLIMS platform. The interview was with our General Manager, Jonathan Gannoulis, and steps through the thought process to revolutionise laboratory informatics:

1. The Initial Idea – inception and drivers to create QLIMS version 9
2. Expectations – transition to leading edge
3. The Journey – creating a future proof LIMS

The interview provides a fantastic insight into the values and thought process to empower an organisation to make significant change.

To learn more about how you can benefit from this approach please feel free to contact our friendly team.

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Have you wanted a cost effective, secure, and flexible way to integrate laboratory instruments and other systems?

The QLIMS Bridge is exactly that and for GMP certified laboratories it provides a streamlined way for validation.

What is the Bridge?

The QLIMS Bridge is a powerful service which monitors folders on a server/computer, then automatically and securely transfers files and maps their associated data to the QLIMS in the cloud.

Running in parralell to the core LIMS it will process large volumes of data from multiple sources in near real time without impacting performance of the LIMS. All the while logging and reporting successes and exceptions.

It is vendor agnostic and very flexible so can be used with a wide range of instruments, file formats and data structures.

What do customers use it for?

• Laboratory instruments – ICP, GC-MS, LC-MS, analysers, micro-plate readers, HPLC and many many more from all the usual vendors plus some you may not know!
• Sample Registration from external collaborators – Many external collaborators will send files with their sample data. Upload this information and automatically register the samples with their metadata.
• Third party portals – Where a company has a web portal which cannot integrate via API the automatic transfer of files to register jobs is made easy
• Reference laboratories – Automated interfacing with reference/contract laboratories to track chain of custody and receive results for work performed and attach reports.

Conclusion

The QLIMS Bridge is another service on the QLIMS platform which brings laboratories a step closer to being fully automated. In line with Lab 4.0 it connects the physical workplace to the digital allowing laboratory staff to focus on value add work. Traditional integrations simply reduce manual data input which is important, but the true power of the Bridge is that from there it can then trigger further business logic.

Contact us today to discuss how it can help.

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For our second post in the QLIMS as a Platform series we will be discussing one of the core components, the Application Programming Interface (API).

What is an API?

When we talk about APIs, we’re referring to interfaces that allow developers to access and modify the data and functions of the LIMS. APIs are most commonly associated with websites and web services. For example, when you log into Facebook, you’re using their API to access and modify your data within their system.

APIs are a powerful tool for developers because they allow them to access data and capabilities on an as-needed basis without needing to build everything from scratch. For example, instead of building an external sample submission module from scratch, a developer can use an API from QLIMS to build an app or portal integration that uses the data and capabilities of our API.

Just like end users interact with an application through the graphical user interface to perform their day-to-day work, a developer can interact with the application by writing commands through the API.

Are there differences in API’s?

• Power – Some APIs are designed for data access, others are designed for control.
• Data Access – How much of the application can be accessed and the functions which can be performed.
• Technology – What technology the API is built on makes a big difference in terms of how developers interact. The three most common are REST, SOAP and RPC.
• Documentation & Support – Having the tools is one thing, but for those looking to develop complex integrations; accurate easy to read documentation and expert support greatly help the process.

Benefits of a REST API

1. Lightweight – REST APIs rely on the HTTP standard which means it’s format agnostic, thus fast, and lightweight — which is necessary for mobile app projects, internet of things devices, and more.
2. Independent – The REST protocol separates the data storage and the UI from the server. This means that developers can work on different areas of a project independently.
3. Scalable & flexible – REST APIs can be scaled quickly due to the separation between the client and the server. Additionally, developers can also easily integrate REST APIs without much added work.

The QLIMS API – Platform over Application

As mentioned above QLIMS has a comprehensive REST API encompassing the entire application which is well documented, with technical support available from the OnQ support team and our regional certified partners.

This is a core pillar of our platform approach, as it allows for multiple applications to be developed and integrated with QLIMS. As such,customers get a more flexible, scalable and integrated approach to the LIMS platform with a wide and growing list of ready integrations to help your lab achieve maximum efficiency.

Contact us today to discuss how it can help.

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In this blog series we will be re-introducing our well renowned LIMS, QLIMS, and how it enables our philosophy for lab informatics, the concept of LIMS as a Platform. Benefits it can enable include:

• Reduce manual errors and lower investigation workloads by 90%
• Improve data integrity
• Reduce QC lab lead times by 60-70%
• Enhance brand trust
• Move the lab from a cost centre to a strategic partner!

For those who haven’t read our recent white paper, Building the QA Lab of the Future, we spoke about the tools you need today, to be ready tomorrow. The key word there being tools, because although we sit firmly in the laboratory it doesn’t mean we lose sight of the overall business having a cohesive strategy.

What is QLIMS as a Platform?

The goal is to ensure your LIMS can not only meet your requirements today, but also the requirements of the future which you do not know yet.

By definition an application is designed to help a user perform specific tasks. A platform is an architecture and software framework that allow many applications to run and connect.

We start on the platform of course with LIMS, QLIMS, as this is our history and where we have had much success. From there we have additional services and applications which run alongside QLIMS helping your lab run as efficiently as possible allowing for less administrative work and more science.

Here is an example:

qlims as a platform example

From sample registration to reporting, quality management, project management, resource planning, instrument and systems automation, workflow and specifications management, notifications, data import, business intelligence reporting and lab execution the QLIMS platform is infinitely scalable.

How do we do this?

QLIMS is completely API based. API is an acronym for Application Programming Interface. Just as you have a fully functional and easy to use interface for the laboratory users, an API is the set of toolkits which exist for those with software development expertise to enable applications to talk together.

OnQ Software provide fully documented API’s for your internal IT team and/or systems integrator of choice. Alternately via our Certified Developers Program we can connect you with trained partners to help.

What is currently available on the QLIMS Platform?

Here are some of the 3^rd party applications which we have available on the QLIMS platform designed to make a scientist’s life easier and empower the business:

• QCKen – rapid data migration tool from ZIFO for import of LIMS data from legacy systems, spreadsheets, hand written notes and other databases.
• Water Outlook – a cloud-based repository for all operational and compliance data that provides early warnings, data storage, security and risk reduction.
• Remote Sampler – a ruggedized mobile data collection solution designed specifically for use in the water and environmental sectors. Developed by CSols.
• Links for LIMS – a complete bi-directional, vendor agnostic instrument integration package from CSols.
• BaseSpace Clarity LIMS – genomic workflow management tool from Illumina that includes integration to dna sequencers.
• Bartender – dynamic label generation tool from Seagull Scientific which includes drivers for laboratory printers.
• RippleDown – clinical decision support solution from BeamTree.

Instrument integration, scheduling, data import mapping, bulk reporting, repository management are some examples of the many OnQ developed services embedded within QLIMS.

Conclusion

This is the future of technology and about time that laboratories are brought up to this level.

Start with one of the QLIMS SaaS packages to be up and running in weeks, not years and always on the latest version. From here you can scale on demand.

For other vendors interested in having their application on our platform, please make contact via our website.

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