Laboratory instruments are among the core assets of any lab and are crucial for ensuring the accuracy and validity of experimental data. For laboratories with numerous instruments, equipment management has become a vital routine task. Scientific and effective management of lab equipment is key to improving laboratory efficiency and guaranteeing data quality. However, without proper centralized management, issues such as irrational allocation of instrument resources, missed calibration deadlines, and unclear equipment statuses can easily arise.
The equipment management module within SunwayWorld independently developed Laboratory Information Management System (SW-LIMS) is specifically designed to address these challenges. It aims to manage laboratory instruments throughout their entire lifecycle, enhancing equipment utilization, improving the accuracy and reliability of experimental data, optimizing resource allocation, and boosting laboratory productivity. This helps lab managers better oversee their instruments and achieve effective management and utilization of scientific experimental data.
1. Instrument File Establishment and Management
Traditional instrument technical files primarily rely on manually compiled paper records, which involve heavy workloads and are prone to delays or omissions. Using the system allows for the online creation and management of instrument documentation. On one hand, it establishes links between instrument information and testing processes, enabling automatic verification of equipment validity for testing tasks and assessment of equipment occupancy and usage. On the other hand, it automatically generates electronic records from equipment usage and other activities, filing them into the instrument's digital archive. This reduces the manual effort required for recording and organizing. Integration with systems like fixed asset management and procurement can also pull in purchase information to aid in file setup, minimizing manual input and ensuring consistency with asset management data.
2. Collection and Management of Electronic Calibration Certificate Information
Calibration is crucial for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of test results. All laboratory equipment falling under mandatory calibration must be calibrated by designated authorities before use. Calibration certificates provide essential support for validating instrument effectiveness. Most lab instruments require periodic calibration, and some testing labs must also account for measurement deviations or uncertainties. Thus, managing calibration certificates is critically important. Manually registering and uploading calibration certificates is overly labor-intensive. Beijing SANWAY World Technology offers a service for collecting electronic calibration certificate information, identifying key details such as instrument name, serial number, calibration date, calibration cycle, calibration conclusion, and calibration content. This automates the extraction and population of key information into the corresponding system fields, forming part of the instrument's technical file and reducing manual registration work.
3. Key Event Control for Equipment Management
To ensure the long-term effective operation of laboratory instruments, most labs periodically manage calibration, interim checks, maintenance, and upkeep. Different instruments have varying calibration/interim check cycles, timing, and requirements. Planning for calibration/interim checks must be done in advance to avoid disrupting testing schedules. Traditional manual planning can lead to delays or oversights. The LIMS equipment management function handles key events like calibration, interim checks, and repairs. It automatically calculates calibration cycles, provides early warnings, facilitates scheduling, and tracks the implementation of calibration and interim checks. This reduces the workload and complexity for equipment administrators and enhances real-time awareness of key instrument events among lab users.
4. Optimization of Instrument Resource Allocation
Laboratory instruments are often expensive. Rational resource allocation to improve equipment utilization and reduce testing costs is a key method for labs to lower expenses and increase efficiency.
Intelligent Scheduling: For time-consuming tasks or specific equipment requirements, automatic scheduling algorithm models can match pending task requirements with currently available instruments, enabling intelligent scheduling. This helps lab users better plan instrument usage, avoid conflicts and waste, and thereby increase equipment utilization.
Equipment Status Monitoring: Provides real-time insight into the status of key lab instruments—whether they are in use, idle, or under repair—helping users better allocate instrument resources.
Equipment Utilization Analysis: Tracks and statistically analyzes instrument usage, helping lab users identify which instruments are frequently idle and which have high demand, potentially requiring expansion or upgrades. This provides scientific support for planning equipment procurement.
5. Automatic Instrument Data Acquisition and Experimental Interaction
Through automatic instrument data acquisition, the system automatically retrieves instrument data/result files and populates them directly into raw records. This creates interaction between experimental tasks and instrument information, strengthens traceability management of experimental data, supports the automatic generation of raw records, reduces manual transcription, and improves the accuracy and reliability of experimental data.
6. Optimization of Daily Instrument Management Tasks
Traditionally, lab managers spend significant time and effort on instrument management. The LIMS equipment management function enables comprehensive online management of the entire instrument workflow, reducing administrative tasks and improving lab efficiency.
Preventing Impact of Instrument Failures: Instruments in the lab may encounter various faults requiring prompt identification and resolution to prevent disruption to experiments. The LIMS fault management function records fault information and promptly notifies relevant personnel for handling, minimizing the impact of failures on experiments.
Inspection and Testing Information Management：
400-686-4199 
Email：
marketing@sunwayworld.com 
Address：
Room 309, 3rd foor, Building A, 119 west fourth ring north road Haidian District, Beling 
