The LIMS as the control center for digitization

(Image source: © CUP Laboratorien Dr. Freitag GmbH)

With their laboratory information and management system (LIMS) LABbase from Blomesystem, the CUP Laboratories not only has a solution for laboratory administration. It now serves as the overall control center for digitization, which the company is consistently driving forward.

The chance

Since 2012, the LIMS LABbase at CUP Laboratories in Radeberg, Saxony, has ensured that most paper-based processes or Excel lists for process control are a thing of the past. As the company pursues the goal of digitizing today what customers will demand tomorrow, CUP is also expanding the solution more and more in the direction of a comprehensive ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. In this way, the company exports data from the LIMS, aggregates it in a data warehouse, from where it can flow into other systems and be displayed there as key figures. Among other things, this enables the company to calculate quickly and reliably if, for example, the prices for raw materials or energy change within a short period of time. In addition, LABbase is suitable as a central control center for the digitization of the company, which automates more and more tasks and connects external systems via interfaces.

IT - rethought

The CUP Laboratories have systematically expanded LABbase together with the GUS Group subsidiary Blomesystem over the course of the last few years. In addition to classic laboratory management, the solution now takes on numerous other tasks. These include, above all, central functions of merchandise management and the implementation of regulatory requirements, such as the regular updating of standard operating procedures. In addition, there is the management of employee training and the associated access management for the various testing tasks at CUP. The same applies to device management, which is also integrated, since most devices must be requalified at regular intervals to ensure that they do not lose their approval. CUP also has other systems in use around LABbase as the central integration platform: an accounting system is connected via an interface, as is a provider of electronic signatures for the test reports. The integration of the existing project management system, an open source software, is also planned.

Fit for the future

With LABbase, CUP Laboratorien Dr. Freitag benefits above all from the following advantages:

• LIMS in use goes beyond classic laboratory management and is developing in the direction of a complete ERP system
• LIMS integrates functions of production planning, material management, quality assurance, training management, device management, certificate creation and addressing/sending of test reports.
• Quality improvement of business processes through standardization
• The document workflow is digitized, status queries are possible at the push of a button
• Data from the LIMS as a central platform are available to other systems as key figures
• Workflows in LABbase can be adapted by CUP employees without programming knowledge thanks to the "Blome Designer
• Scalability of the solution to future requirements
• Digitization with LABbase supports the excellence concept of CUP Laboratories by providing the necessary key figures and information.