Reducing time to market is increasingly important for all businesses as they seek to lower costs and increase revenues, and the pharmaceutical industry is no exception. Pharma and biotech organisations need to create breakthrough medicines quickly, while simultaneously juggling sensitive data and complying with stringent regulations. To help, some organisations are turning to process improvements, such as laboratory automation, to optimise work and to obtain efficiency gains — but can organisations introduce automation and remain compliant? In this online exclusive, Stuart Ward, head of Business Analysis at R&D software provider, IDBS, tells us more…
Lab automation
Automation in the lab can range from robotics and equipment, such as automated plate readers, through to electronic data management systems, like ELNs and LIMS, which can record and analyse any data that is obtained. All automated systems provide some advantages on their own, but the real benefits come when multiple systems are integrated together. Using end-to-end automation that reduces human or manual input, from obtaining data through to the actual analysis of data, enables organisations to introduce easily repeatable processes and reduce the risk of transcription errors.