The future of mining depends on the industry’s capacity to maintain the balance between profitability and preservation of the environment. Human capital also needs to be conserved, both on-site and as a consequence of potential environmental health impacts of mining operations where measures of exposures and doses must be monitored. This requires assessment of risk at all stages to ensure that impacts on the environment and on humans are always understood. Appropriate monitoring techniques are required to assess the adequacy of rehabilitation.

In order to assure the quality/certification of products, optimize the efficiency and throughput of continuous processes, and comply with governmental product and safety standards/regulations (i.e. ISO 17025 and ISO 14000), the mining industry must control their processes with rigorous testing and real-time monitoring.  Additionally, it is critical that organizations have systems in place that speed “time to market” and react to an ever changing market demand.  Being able to react to the demand and adapt their processes and systems to a new market situation is critical and successful companies are able to face increases in demand head on. A key component in this effort is the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

LIMSare also vital for organizations looking to realize better performance, reduced production cycles, as well as certifying the end product.  Industrial LIMS are an important component of a comprehensive quality management solution that often includes Process Information Management Systems (PIMS), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).  Together, these systems continuously monitor and control production processes, however the LIMS – which stores product quality data – generally operates independent of the other systems. Therein lies the problem.  Companies contend with two separate islands of information, resulting in inefficient data management and decision-making.  Today, mining companies need a LIMS with greater flexibility and ability to meet the needs of the broader organization. An ideal LIMS is one that serves as an integrated platform capable of supporting key enterprise processes and systems. Enterprise LIMS include XML web services for open communication with lab and enterprise applications, and client/server functionality for greater access to information and insight into data across the organization.

Specifically developed for enterprise deployments, Thermo Scientific’s SampleManager. It can be implemented in one or multiple instances, is scalable for a large user base and is available in multiple languages. It is flexible and configurable to accommodate various workflows, lab types and user communities across the enterprise. SampleManager integrates easily with other applications and instruments in and out of the lab, providing one standard user-interface and helps companies enforce process standardization across multiple labs.

SampleManager includes a web browser interface for remote sample login, data access and reporting. Secure access to the LIMS data is available for laboratory staff, remote users and external customers.  SampleManager’s web services interface allows the LIMS to be delivered as a network service that can be integrated using common Internet standards, such as ASP, XML, SOAP and HTTP. These industry standard tools help dramatically simplify and reduce the costs of integrating SampleManager with other laboratory and business systems, including PIMS, MES and ERP solutions.

Lower Total Cost of Ownership
A global solution helps reduce the total cost of ownership. An independent study, commissioned by Thermo Scientific, confirms this. Enterprise LIMS reduce costs by centralizing and consolidating IT and technical support personnel. With one solution, departments can develop more knowledge of a particular LIMS to identify and solve problems faster, even anticipate them before they occur. This frees staff to focus on business activities.  An enterprise LIMS reduces downtime and increases productivity for the end-user. Lower costs are also achieved in the areas of implementation, systems integration, upgrades, application development and training.  In addition, standardization streamlines vendor relationships and improves purchasing power.

Ensure Product Quality and Avoid Delays
With an enterprise LIMS, companies can spot trends and monitor product quality more quickly and easily, dramatically improving their overall quality control process. An integrated approach results in better data flow, less redundant data and virtually no transcription errors and increased laboratory efficiency – all while maintaining the highest quality standards. Duplicate data and manual entry of sample requests and testing parameters are eliminated through instrument integration. SampleManager helps ensure accurate data flow between the lab and the rest of the organization. Having that data available to managers and decision-makers organization-wide leads to faster, data-driven business decision-making.

In Good Company
Here’s a “sampling” of Mining and Minerals customers who count on SampleManager LIMS™: Codelco (Chile), Minera Sán Cristóbal (Bolivia), Doña Inés de collahuasi (Chile) and Arcelor Brazil (CST).

In Summary
Thermo Scientific offers SampleManager LIMS™ with proven capabilities that afford real-time feedback on sample deviations, reduces paper and manual work to increase efficiencies, enables faster decision-making, integrate systems and standardize processes across multiple labs. SampleManager provides robust and reliable operation that no other LIMS solution in the market offers.  Here are a few features of SampleManager:

• Adopts open standards with fully engineered Microsoft® .NET architecture using C#
• Three-tier client/server solution operating with Microsoft inductive user interface
• Web-enabled with a Service Oriented Architecture
• Configurable solution that provide enhanced functionality for the mining and minerals industry
• Integrates the lab with process plant, enterprise, and desktop applications
• Auditable for laboratories operating in regulated environments
• Designed, developed and supported within an ISO 9001/TickIT environment