de Brouwer Hans, Stegeman Gerrit
SABIC Innovative Plastics, Global Analytical Technology, Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands.
J Lab Autom. 2011 Feb;16(1):1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jala.2009.07.007. Epub 2010 Mar 4.
To maximize utilization of expensive laboratory instruments and to make most effective use of skilled human resources, the entire chain of data processing, calculation, and reporting that is needed to transform raw NMR data into meaningful results was automated. The LEAN process improvement tools were used to identify non-value-added steps in the existing process. These steps were eliminated using an in-house developed software package, which allowed us to meet the key requirement of improving quality and reliability compared with the existing process while freeing up valuable human resources and increasing productivity. Reliability and quality were improved by the consistent data treatment as performed by the software and the uniform administration of results. Automating a single NMR spectrophotometer led to a reduction in operator time of 35%, doubling of the annual sample throughput from 1400 to 2800, and reducing the turn around time from 6 days to less than 2.
为了最大限度地利用昂贵的实验室仪器，并最有效地利用技术熟练的人力资源，将原始核磁共振（NMR）数据转化为有意义结果所需的数据处理、计算和报告的整个流程实现了自动化。精益流程改进工具被用于识别现有流程中无增值的步骤。这些步骤通过一个内部开发的软件包得以消除，这使我们能够满足与现有流程相比提高质量和可靠性的关键要求，同时释放宝贵的人力资源并提高生产率。软件执行的一致数据处理以及结果的统一管理提高了可靠性和质量。一台NMR分光光度计的自动化使操作员时间减少了35%，年样品通量从1400增加到2800，周转时间从6天减少到不到2天。
