LabWare is pleased to invite you to join our LIMS webinar for mining companies. LIMS is an application built around a centralized database of samples and any meta data, results, workflows and instruments associated with them.
What you will learn:

  • Use LIMS to log, track, record and report on samples and scientific data in a structured and consistent manner.
  • Implement LIMS to organize your lab, boosting efficiency, transparency and compliance.
  • Deploy LIMS to document and track a sample through its entire lifespan, from creation to disposal.
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LabWare: Best Choice for Miners to Manage Info Remotely
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LabWare: Best Choice for Miners to Manage Info Remotely

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Alejandro Ehrenberg By Alejandro Ehrenberg | Journalist and Industry Analyst - Fri, 10/16/2020 - 12:54

If miners want to get ahead of the latest trends, they will need to get on board with smart technologies. One solid step in that direction is the adoption of laboratory information management systems (LIMS), the focus of a webinar held earlier in the week and hosted by LabWare, the leader in LIMS, in collaboration with Mexico Business News.

The keynote speakers during Wednesday’s webinar included LabWare experts who explained how to use LIMS for logging, tracking, recording and reporting on samples and scientific data in a structured and consistent manner. Themes ranged from how to implement LIMS to organize labs; and how to deploy LIMS to document and track a sample through its entire life span. In addition to LabWare speakers, the webinar included two LIMS users from First Majestic, a top mining operator, who confirmed the usefulness of LIMS. Introductory remarks were made by Pedro Layton, Commercial Director for Latin America at LabWare.

Atziyeri Villegas, Sales Representative of LabWare, highlighted the main trends in the mining industry, including the rise of socially-responsible companies and of ESG investment. She emphasized the importance of data digitalization and automation of processes, underlining cybersecurity as well. Villegas concluded her survey of these trends by demonstrating the crucial role that mining can play in achieving a low-carbon economy and said that, if the industry is to rise to the task, it has to adopt smart technologies. Villegas stated that LabWare’s value proposition is to provide software that enables miners to profitably jump on these trends.

Villegas presented some of the benefits of implementing LabWare’s LIMS in mining laboratories. She began with data digitalization. This has several goals. First, it sets the right foundation for operating. Second, it makes it possible to habilitate the data capacity of specific team members. Third, data digitalization enables operators to access data from anywhere and at any moment. Finally, it makes it possible to extract value from data and make better decisions. These goals are relevant throughout the life cycle of a mine, from exploration to the deliverance of processed ore to clients.

Villegas then examined the significance of data integrity. This means the maintenance and assurance of the accuracy and consistency of data over its entire life cycle. She pointed out that it is a critical aspect of the design, implementation and usage of any system that stores, processes or retrieves data, like LIMS. State-of-the-art software is necessary to achieve data integrity and Villegas said that LIMS can help miners to this end. LabWare’s LIMS centralizes all different areas where data is scattered in a mining operation but presents the data in a way that is relevant to each department, like geology or laboratories.

Villegas concluded her presentation by explaining the benefits of laboratory automation. This minimizes human error and integrates all the components of a mining operation with the goal of streamlining daily operations.   

Santiago Flecha, Senior Technical Sales Manager at LabWare, demonstrated areas LIMS could be applied. He showed the audience the work panels that LIMS generates. These can be oriented to specific roles within the laboratory. Flecha mentioned how LIMS is also perfect for individual technicians to organize their workload. Moreover, decision-making is enhanced with LIMS, given the real-time access to information it provides while eliminating the need for extensive clerical work. Thanks to LIMS, laboratories can easily generate comprehensive traceability reports that can be shared with relevant stakeholders in a matter of seconds. Flecha concluded that LIMS’ major benefits include real-time communication, immediate access to information, organization of laboratory tasks, laboratory automation, information centralization and an enhanced capacity to proactively make decisions.

Mario Díaz, LIMS specialist at First Majestic, shared his experience as an experienced LIMS user. He reported that all of First Majestic’s operations are running LabWare’s LIMS. The company started building its LIMS infrastructure from a central laboratory at its La Parrilla mine. From there, it started building a complete automated laboratory system encompassing all its operations. First Majestic has 206 registered LIMS users. Diaz pointed out that thanks to LabWare’s LIMS, he can integrate and centralize information of samples, instruments and even personnel. He also highlighted that LabWare’s LIMS can be interfaced with other apps like Qlikview or Balance Systems.

Teresita Guerra, Central Lab and Assays Superintendent at First Majestic, concluded the webinar. She said that the greatest benefit the mining company she represents has gained from LIMS is being able to pass the ISO 9001 2015 audits easily. Straightforward sample traceability has been key to that achievement. Guerra highlighted LIMS’ graphs and KPI feature, by means of which laboratory optimization is maximized. She added that after installing LIMS, First Majestic’s laboratories experienced 100 percent improvement in delivery times, 50 percent less downtime, 60 percent more productivity and 100 percent more traceability.

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Home > Mining > View from the Top

Labware's LIMS Mining Solution, Key to Lab Success

Saúl Mendoza - LabWare
Regional Director Latin America

STORY INLINE POST

Alejandro Ehrenberg By Alejandro Ehrenberg | Journalist and Industry Analyst - Tue, 06/09/2020 - 15:47

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Q: Which LabWare solutions are being deployed in the fight against COVID-19?

A: We have devised a solution consisting of a mobile kit to test for COVID-19. It includes our software and an instrument that notifies you within 10 minutes if a person has the virus. The information is sent to government health agencies in a matter of seconds and databases are kept under close scrutiny. We are looking to introduce this into Mexico, Peru and Colombia.

Regarding our clients, our software supports them in a very useful way. Most of them have been quarantined. We provide them with two ways of accessing their data without having to physically be in the laboratory or the mine. First, we have a web plugin that allows our clients to view their data in real-time. Also, we have developed a mobile app where clients can access their cellphones and understand what is going on at their plants, tech departments and labs. To sum up, we are providing a solution that may help government health departments in the fight against COVID-19. Also, we are helping our clients to keep working while they practice social distancing.

Q: How does your LIMS solution dovetail with your ELN solution to form a single product?

A: LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) is the main software. It structures all your processes, systems and methods. Together with the LabWare ELN (Electronic Laboratory Notebook) serves to complete the Enterprise Laboratory Platform software product Suite. This allows any data within LIMS to be accessible by ELN and vice versa.

Specifically, LIMS allows the automation of your laboratory. It interfaces with other systems, such as ERPs, geology systems, robots, and any other hand-held devices that are used in a lab, centralizing the information and making it available through comprehensive and easy to use visual workflows. Also, the ELN responds to one of the industry's long time needs which is method execution. Through ELN you can make sure that the methods in your laboratory are executed step by step and guide your technicians every step of the way. This is specifically useful in relation to R&D — when something new is being developed. By its own nature, LIMS helps you when you want to be creative. On the other hand, ELN provides clients with a structured way to create experiments as their needs. They can freely develop new ways of using their laboratories to get novel results.

Q: What specific solutions do you have for mining and what problem do they solve?

A: Most of our clients have always bought our system non-configured with the starting point being one of our Template solutions (preconfigured modules required by the industry or business). That means that you start out with a starting point using industry best practices, and then work with us to configure the system according to your specific needs. Nevertheless, some clients do not need the full solution. They only need it for sample quality control so they can present the results to their clients. We came up with a specific “vertical” solution based on our 10 years of experience in Latin America. We preconfigured our system and developed a tailor-made solution for the specific needs of Latin American miners. The system only does what it needs to do, so it is limited in that sense. If the client wants to expand, he can expand easily. We just have to install added modules. This specific solution for the mining industry is called Mining Template. Its benefits include a much faster implementation than the full system: 16 days versus six months and the price point is lower.

Mining Template is based on accumulated best practices in Latin America. That allows it to tackle some of the most important challenges mining labs face. For example, many laboratories want to become ISO-17025-certified. We have included in our Mining Template all the characteristics of ISO 17025. Mining Template lets the laboratory work under ISO specifications. Also, we have included in the software guidelines that governments require for sustainability reporting, specifically in Mexico and Chile. That enables clients to generate all the data they need for those reports.

Q: What is one success story for LabWare in Mexico’s mining industry?

A: In 2008, Peñoles came to us because they needed help managing the samples at their central laboratory in Torreon, called Met Mex. We were able to halve their processing time in the first phase of implementation. After that, once the system started working at full force, the software cut that half into another half. That happened within a year. Soon after, we received interest from other Peñoles mines and from Fresnillo mines. We implemented the software in the mines, which received the same benefits as Met Mex. Additionally, we centralized all the data in one central system where they can analyze and study all data from all the mines and laboratories. They can receive just one report that lets them know exactly where all their samples are. We effectively streamlined all the laboratories from each company as well as the central laboratory. They also implemented the software into their processing plants, like Quimica del Rey. All the data now goes into one system. Most recently, they added a feature for doing everything via web interphase. They can now analyze data and generate reports in real-time. That solved the problem of mines being located in remote regions. They used to transfer their data via satellite or microwave, which is not so efficient.

Q: How do you respond to the objection that LIMS offers too many functions and that one single customer cannot use all of them?

A: Our system is modular but you do not have to install all possible modules, only the ones that you need. It is true that all the modules are available and can be added in real-time. But LabWare works with its clients to understand the needs and challenges to overcome within the laboratory to develop a tailored solution. And we are able to do this due to our team of LIMS experts located in Mexico and several other countries in Latin America. The fact that we are able to come up with a Mining Template that can be installed in 16 days is a testament to our ability to focus.

LabWare provides laboratory informatics solutions. LabWare’s products have been proven in a wide range of industries for over 30 years. The company develops, markets and supports a single well-planned suite of products. At the forefront of its Enterprise Laboratory Platform (ELP) are its flagship products, LabWare LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) and LabWare ELN (Electronic Laboratory Notebook).

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