Laboratory automation, through the integration of apparatus, processes, and systems, is becoming an increasingly attractive option for organisations struggling to keep pace with demand. Correctly implemented, laboratory automation can deliver higher throughput, reduced cycle times, more consistent results, and improved personnel safety — this all supports better commercial results than laboratories with solely manual processes. But if you get automation wrong, the consequences can be severe — from a disconnect between laboratory instruments and software systems, to a thoroughly demoralised workforce.
Festo has considerable experience in developing automated solutions for all areas of sample preparation, from handling and positioning sample containers to precisely dispensing liquids in microwell plates. Based on this experience, we’ve identified the key ingredients to ease the transition into laboratory automation and optimise the benefits for your organisation and team.
A clear vision is essential, so the first step must be to identify what you want to achieve by automating your laboratory. For example, your business goal may be to reduce cost per sample, increase throughput, or to free up staff for value-added tasks. Once you determine priorities, it is important to share them with your automation partner. Discussion at this early stage will enable them to assess whether existing equipment can be suitably automated, and how some factors — such as scalability to meet future growth — can be factored in.
An audit of existing assets will determine essentials that could affect automation design, such as availability and positioning of utilities like air, nitrogen, electricity, and water. It will also consider practical issues such as accessibility — whether new automated systems will fit through the laboratory doors, for instance — and whether the existing lab layout requires any adjustment to optimise efficiency.
Successful automation projects are supported by engaged teams that understand the need for automation and how it supports their personal goals and those of the business. Your people will have valuable experience of where the current bottlenecks are, as well as ideas on how to improve processes — these are invaluable in determining the optimal automation solution. It is also worth exploring how automation will affect your team’s daily routines. For example, if your team are no longer undertaking some repetitive tasks, what can they do with that time to be even more productive?
Tapping into your team’s knowledge is an important part of the automation journey and helps to build a complete picture. Involving everyone from the outset also means they are more likely to engage with, and accept, the changes that automation will bring.
Be realistic about the automation goals you can achieve financially. While the business benefits can be significant, it is important to establish the level of investment required and how it will affect operational costs. In addition to the capital investment in automation equipment and software, a financial assessment should factor in associated costs such as installation, transportation, and maintenance requirements, as well as any additional training or recruitment needs. Taken together, these will enable an accurate prediction of upfront costs, ROI, and the anticipated payback period.
If full automation is not possible in a single hit because upfront costs are too high, a phased automation programme may be the solution. It’s advisable to work with your automation partner to ensure that further integration and scalability are possible over time, or future costs may escalate.
Unrealistic delivery dates can undo the best of plans and thoroughly undermine staff morale. Make sure the timetable to completion involves realistic milestones for you, your team, and your automation supplier to keep the project on track. Ensure you understand the time it will take to build, install, and commission the new automation solution. This may involve a period of downtime so that the system can be implemented, which may affect your calculations further. Also, factor in the need for staff training and their adjustment to new systems and ways of working.
Setting realistic timelines eliminates unreasonable expectations throughout the supply chain and builds trust, both within your team and with other stakeholders, that the automation process is under control.
We mentioned right at the beginning that engaging your automation partner early is the best policy when developing your laboratory automation strategy. What you should look for in an automation partner may depend on several factors, including your organisation’s own assets and expertise in aspects such as maintenance and IT systems. However, there are some basic criteria that can be applied when assessing potential automation partners.
Check if they are willing to invest their time in visiting your site and assessing your current laboratory set-up in detail. Ask what help is available with installation and implementation, as well as any troubleshooting. Do they offer a maintenance package alongside the capital equipment deal and what is their policy on obsolescence and future systems compatibility? Also determine whether they offer post-installation support such as in-person training sessions or online ‘how-to’ video guides that will support your team and accelerate the transition to automated working.
The journey towards successful laboratory automation is multifaceted and requires careful planning, engagement, and partnership. By establishing clear outcomes, engaging your team, being realistic about costs and timelines, and choosing the right automation partner, laboratories can harness the transformative power of automation to meet the growing demands of clinical diagnostic and analytical testing.
The importance of a methodical approach to automation, ensuring that the investment yields the desired improvements in efficiency, quality, and safety, ultimately leads to better commercial outcomes. As testing and sampling requirements continue to evolve, those laboratories that embrace these principles are likely to be at the forefront of innovation, setting the standard for high-quality, scalable, and reproducible services that can grow and adapt to meet changing market demands.
For further insights and guidance on Festo and laboratory automation, visit: www.festo.com/laboratory-automation