Lims (Laboratory Information Management) System

Question

I need your help in getting information on the LIMS system that would be helpful to be included in my water treatment training manual. Also, how does the LIMS system tie in with SCADA. How does the LIMS system compare or differ with other similar systems? Any other helpful information that water treatment professionals need to know the LIMS system?

David Sheehan · Answer

Just want to add my support to what Laurie wrote below.
LIMS are just fancy databases for storing laboratory data.  In the very old days, laboratory results would have been stored in something like an Excel, or Lotus 123, spreadsheet, but modern LIMS are a lot more sophisticated than just a simple database, and can assist not only with the storage of results, but also the scheduling of sampling.  But LIMS are only capable of storing discrete results.
SCADA systems are set up to capture data from online analysers that read close to continuously, and then compare these results with set limits.  Within water safety plan (WSP) frameworks, SCADA is great for monitoring the performance of critical control points (CCPs), especially breaches of the alert and critical limits associated with the CCPs.  To analyse trends over time, you really need to send raw SCADA data to something like a SCADA Historian storage arrangement.
Important difference in the two data sets is that LIMS store discrete, point in time data, whereas SCADA stores continuous data.  I am not aware of any system that can meaningfully combine laboratory data with SCADA data.
Within the WSP framework, SCADA data hopefully prevents you from supplying unsafe drinking water, where laboratory data in a LIMS tells you whether you did supply safe drinking water.
Cheers
David Sheehan

Muhammad Alfalah Fauzi · Answer

Hi Peter,
As far as I know, LIMS is general term describing the architecture on how your laboratory infrastructure (sensors, networks, actuators, tools, etc.) integrated and connects one with each other to provide optimized laboratory operations.
SCADA can also be described as architectural concept or principle (as well as a general terms) on how integrated monitoring or control systems can be established within industrial environment.
Both can be differ by common use in the industrial environment. LIMS is commonly intended for laboratory-specific tasks and conditions while SCADA is commonly used in industrial & processes (manufacturing, refineries, etc.).
But both shows the same concept on how your tools, sensors, actuators, etc. can be integrated into centralized software and systems through various networks (wireless, wored, fiber optics, etc.) to provide relevant data & information, data processing, monitoring, control (remotely), alert, etc. to achieve more optimized operational activities.
Hope this helps.

Joseph Cotruvo · Answer

Pete,
Contact Greg Carroll's office at the  EPA Cincinnati laboratory. They can help you. 513 569 7948 They do methods development and data collection on drinking water for EPA.
Joe Cotruvo

Laurie Reynolds · Answer

LIMS is a generic term for Laboratory Information Management System and each system will offer different functionality. Are you working with a particular manufacturers LIMS system?
SCADA is a software system for capturing values from real-time on-line sensors installed around the plant for process monitoring, There is real value in bringing these systems together but the degree of integration will vary from one plant to another.

Taxonomy