Global trends revealed on catalysis and fine chemical synthesis

Interesting global news:

Taken from a global AOL.com website.

The Chemistry Division of Vellore Institute of Technology-Chennai recently conducted a one day national seminar on Recent Trends in Catalysis and Fine Chemicals Synthesis. The workshop was held on 20^th April in the Chemistry Department Lab.

Despite the great success and importance of chemistry too the quality of life, public image has been deteriorated due to the increasing importance of environmental issues by the use of hazardous catalysts (mineral acids) and solvents lead to ecological imbalance.

Today, its not only a question of what we can synthesize, but also how we do it, since environmental and economic pressures are now forcing the chemical community to search for more efficient way of performing chemical transformations. Developing new route for eco-friendly heterogeneous catalyst preparation and their use in the fine chemicals synthesis is keenly noticeable in all industrial countries since it reduces the reaction steps, selective towards target compounds, avoids hazardous solvent, easy catalyst recovery and reusability.

The workshop provided an opportunity for contact between students, academic researchers and manufacturers, potential users of catalysts. With hands on exposure to every individual participant of this workshop, it gave an students and researchers an opportunity to explore in their research in petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals synthesis.

The workshop was technically sponsored by Thomas Baker (Chemicals) Pvt. Ltd. They are a professionally managed firm involved in the manufacture and export of a comprehensive range of the Fine Chemicals and Laboratory Reagents.

What can a best-in-class LIMS do for you?

We all know what brown can do for us (if yo have see the UPS advertisments). But what about LIMS? It's simple. LIMS:

• It will help you adhere to all laboratory accreditations from DOD-ELAB to NELAC to ISO: 1925. For example Omega 11 offers Level 4 Reporting, including CLL-like reports, copies of all documents and more.
• It will emphasize the use of Electronic Data Deliverables (EDDs) such as client-specific SEDDs, EQUIS, ERPMS, ADR.net and more. 
• It provides the utmost in laboratory productivity. For example Omega 11 is designed to reduce your pain points so that you can experience true lab automation. You will benefit from instrument interfacing, the opportunity to use a paperless system and seamless integration.
• It will ensure an effective level of communications between your lab and your other operational systems is possible.
• It will reduce the amount of time it takes you to finalize your work.

Learn more by visiting us at www.khemia.com.

It's a great time to be a lab technician

Did you know that employment of medical and environmental laboratory technologists is expected to grow by 11 percent between 2010 and 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations? That is according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Employment of medical laboratory technicians is expected to grow by 15 percent between 2010 and 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

In other words, it's a great field to be in these days. On the environmental side there is all sorts of testing that these technicians can do and their skills are marketable in many different industries.

Here at Khemia, we make software for these professionals that help them to run their lab and meet both client needs and federal and state regulations. As a lab professional, you will be using LIMS just like we offer at Khemia.

Check out the Association of Public Health Laboratories

Every now and then we try to pass along some interesting and informative resources and websites for your consideration.

If you have not visited the Association of Public Health Laboratories website recently, there are some great updates and information there. The Association of Public Health Laboratories works to strengthen laboratories serving the public's health in the U.S. and globally. If you haven't been there recently, check it out!

Members can also select from a wide range of committees in which to join.

Get the flexibility you need with your LIMS

Flexibility refers to being able to make changes quickly and easily, an important consideration in working with a LIMS. Consider the need to edits reporting units, analytes or other data points on the fly. We have made it possible to even change a PQL requirement to MDL without the need for filing a new report or redoing your test. Values can be inserted dynamically.

All access to your software should be recorded with full documentation. Convenient features such as one-click email, fax and scan capabilities will help your lab to run more efficiently saving you time and money. When you have some time, think how flexible your laboratory is now and how such improvements could help your work flow.

Learn more about the flexibility of Omega 11 with this slideshow.

Get the certification you need from your LIMS

When selecting a LIMS for your laboratory, you need a solution that combines industry knowledge with efficiency and cost-effectiveness. And you need the laboratory accreditations that will help you ensure that your needs – and those of your clients – are met.

That list of accreditations includes everything from DOD-ELAB to NELAC to ISO: 1925. Some ability for Level 4 Reporting, including CLL-like reports, copies of all documents and more should be available.

And you’ll want to emphasize the use of Electronic Data Deliverables (EDDs) such as client-specific SEDDs, EQUIS, ERPMS, ADR.net and more.

Eliminate your pain points and benefit from instrument interfacing, the opportunity to use a paperless system and seamless integration. This is what you need when looking for a LIMS – saving you time and money while streamlining operations. 

Report designs matter

Most of us are not accomplished graphic designers. Or photographers for that matter. But our clients still expect that we will produce easy-to-follow reports that can help them to communicate with other stakeholders how your laboratory is performing.

One of the best ways to ensure that your reports have the information and look you want is to utilize the features inherent with report templates within a LIMS. You should have the choice to customize the look and feel that meet your needs and answer any questions your customers have.

With Omega 11 we have created pre-labeled report templates to meet such needs. For example you can easily configure a report to conform with a quality assurance project plan (QAPP) that is specialized by your client. And you can customize a look and content that adheres to your style.

Expert design for your LIMS is critical to its efficiency

Omega 11 was designed and developed by analytical chemists and experienced software engineers, so the end result is a product that includes features and functionalities that are important to your laboratory. It’s important that not only your LIMS software be developed by software experts to ensure ease-of-use and functionality, but laboratory experts who understand the challenges you are faced with daily.

At Khemia we use a robust database engine (MS SQL Server) that includes huge data storage capacity and performance that suits the needs of an individual user or a large enterprise. But we are always looking for feedback on how the product can evolve and improve. Drop us a line and tell us how we’re doing!

Report Designs Matter to your Lab

Most of us are not accomplished graphic designers. Or photographers for that matter. But our clients still expect that we will produce easy-to-follow reports that can help them to communicate with other stakeholders how your laboratory is performing.

One of the best ways to ensure that your reports have the information and look you want is to utilize the features inherent with report templates within a LIMS. You should have the choice to customize the look and feel that meet your needs and answer any questions your customers have.

With Omega 11 we have created pre-labeled report templates to meet such needs. For example you can easily configure a report to conform with a quality assurance project plan (QAPP) that is specialized by your client. And you can customize a look and content that adheres to your style.

There are no extra fees for these features, nor should there be. It’s not an option in today’s environment – it’s a requirements. Various certifications and accreditations, such as those from NELAP, ISO 17025, DoD, ELAP and more, have specific requirements on how reporting should look and what information should be included. Best of all making content changes to a report will not affect the overall design.

You may not be a graphic designer. But you can claim to be one provided you have dynamic reporting designs available to you. You can adhere to your branding needs while eliminating mistakes since none of your changes will affect the details provided in the report. Learn more at http://www.khemia.com/.

Ensure proper lab audit strategies

It goes without saying that data generated by environmental laboratories are used to make strategic decisions for all types of projects (investigation, remediation, compliance, and more).

Auditing is done for many reasons: regulatory, budgetary, operationally and more. Among the goals of an audit is to reduce the need to resample and eliminate budget overruns. When properly managed a laboratory audit ensures that the laboratory has quality systems in place, follows good laboratory practices, and generates data of integrity and quality.  

A good LIMS system can help ensure this as well. Consider the types of options your LIMS should be able to manage: 

• DOD lab, ISO, other certifications
• Documenting activities that produce data
• Scientific validity, legally defensible
• Reducing timeline to finalize
• Paperless systems 

Check back for more tips on auditing your lab in the next few weeks!

Choosing the LIMS solution to meet your needs, Part 3

Our last post highlighted industry knowledge and cost structure as two important considerations when researching LIMS. Here are three more:

1.     Ease of configurability

LIMS clients should be more interested in configurability than custom software products. Custom products can lead to issues if the software provider changes its mix of products or goes out of business. An off-the-shelf product also helps to cut down on software costs, keeping your solution more affordable. But configurability can be highly beneficial:

·         It can be used in your lab regardless of the “language” or nomenclature you use

·         It can meet the needs of your workflow requirements

·         Reporting capabilities meet your needs and provide a wealth of information

2.     Talk to your peers

The best information about LIMS solutions can be gleaned from other laboratories. So call labs in your area, state or even 3,000 miles away. Ask what LIMS they have used in the past and what they use now, and any great, good or negative experiences.

Specifically you may want to ask:

·         Did the LIMS solution provide them with great value?

·         Is it flexible enough to meet your needs?

·         How was the level of customer service you have received?

·         Was the implementation process a positive one?

3.     Focus on productivity and profitability

The amount of information that you can input into a LIMS solution is virtually limitless. With a best-of-breed solution, your information will be properly organized. When organized, you may find that such issues as multiple redos resulting from high batch failures and process constraints simply fade away.

The most productive LIMS solutions allow you to automate the many processes that need to be completed within your lab environment. That automation must not include any compromises of quality or a bottleneck in timeliness. With a best-of-breed LIMS you can automate many operations that previously were manual in nature, while allowing for a capacity calculation that can identify the proper flow for streamlined efficiency. That leads to a bottom-line advantage.

Searching for a LIMS solution does take time and research. But by considering the features listed above and comparing your options, your chances of making an informed decision will be greatly improved.

Choosing the best LIMS to meet your needs...Part 2

Following up on my previous post, here is a brief list of considerations when researching LIMS solutions:

1.     Industry Knowledge

It may be an obvious point but the fact is that a LIMS solution that most specifically addresses challenges you face will be the most valuable to you. This makes it critical that the vendor you select have detailed knowledge about the laboratory environment.

You will want to ask questions of the vendor about how many of their professionals have worked in labs or possibly have managed or owned them. The software end is important but you don’t want software people making decisions on the features your LIMS solution should have. That should come from lab professionals who have been in your shoes.

2.     Cost Structure

Once you make an investment in a LIMS solution it is like a marriage. Your relationship will continue to develop over time and you will want that marriage to last 10, 20 or more years. That relationship should allow you certain rights, such as the ability to get new releases at no charge. Review the service agreement and understand where and when other charges may arise so that you are not blindsided.

More to come in the following days. As always please contact me with questions.

Choosing the best LIMS to meet your needs...

Selecting a LIMS system for your lab can be a time-intensive process. And it can also be overwhelming. Such an investment can cause you to wonder if you are making the right decision and whether you are judging options based on the most appropriate features.

In addition to the technical details of a LIMS solution, you will also want to consider the “personality” of the vendor, the service commitments, frequency of updates and more. And you will want to make sure you understand what and when extra costs may arise. 

We’ll provide postings in the coming days to outline the right questions you should be asking when shopping for or considering a LIMS.  

Welcome to the Omega LIMS blog. Here we will provide you with a variety of updates, tips, industry trends and more to help you get the most out of your LIMS.

We welcome your comments, suggestions and feedback. Be sure to visit our website at www.khemia.com for more information. Thanks for stopping by!