Retisoft Inc

  The life sciences business needs to improve lab design and processes as a result of COVID-19. This requires a quicker pace of expansion than in other industries. For most lab employees, remote work is not a viable option. To do any kind of research, testing, or product development, lab staff need specialized equipment, supplies, and working conditions that are only available in lab environments. This is where professionally designed  laboratory automation  can benefit the lab processes significantly . COVID-19: Short-Term Solutions The life sciences industry adapted laboratory operations and design in order to meet the necessary health and safety measures. Some larger companies built COVID-19 testing facilities for on-site employees. These facilities ranged from modular to prefabricated, or permanent changes. Other facilities required a redesign at the spur of the moment to ensure that staff could continue to work with the utmost safety. Many organizations adopted exten...

  A collaborative robot, or cobot, is a robot that interacts with a human in a shared space. In an industrial setting, this differs from how robotic systems are traditionally used, as they are often separated from human workers. Combining the efforts of robotic systems and people in a collaborative setting provides several advantages but also has its disadvantages. In this article, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of this new breed of  automation equipment . Advantages Adaptability Cobots tend to be smaller than their non-collaborative counterparts. Additionally, they are generally manufactured in a way that makes them somewhat portable. These qualities make them relatively easy to relocate. When new processes need to be programmed into the lab automation equipment, cobots allow for hand guiding to teach the robot a new movement. This process can be done by any member of staff, without the need for specialized knowledge. In effect, this makes programming accessible to al...

Updating laboratory equipment requires careful planning to execute with minimal disruptions. There are several challenges one will encounter during the process, including challenges related to the installation and programing of   automation software . Replacing Equipment Without Disrupting Workflow In a busy lab environment, there may not be time or resources available to completely shut down the lab while the old equipment is removed and the new equipment is installed. If this is the case, careful planning is required to minimize workflow disruption. Many device manufacturers allow you to test and validate your assays prior to the system installation. Additionally, you could simulate your workflow runs using your scheduling software to identify possible deadlocks in the system. Addressing this from the beginning will result in an optimized platform that will handle your desired throughput effectively. Unplanned Construction Work When replacing old laboratory equipment, be sure to ...

  Any laboratory that has a throughput high enough to require automation has certain important choices to make. Selecting the smartest software option for your lab’s particular requirements is the single most critical decision you’ll make, on the path to getting the most efficiency and accuracy from your facility.  Automation software  can ensure your lab’s performance remains optimized for every new component. Because science is continually evolving, laboratory automation systems must also evolve. Your process automation software should help guide your scientists and technicians through the user experience, as they set parameters and routines for the timing and scheduling of lab functions. This allows everyone to make better decisions in less time, with an ever increasing data flow. The system should be straightforward enough for lab technicians to run, yet customizable for programmers to introduce whatever modifications might be needed later. Laboratory Information Mana...

2020 was one of the most unprecedented years on record. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses and people worldwide were forced to rethink the way they operate. For many companies, this meant closing down, migrating workers to home offices, or introducing new systems into their operations. Throughout all of these changes, a spotlight was directed at   laboratory automation   and its role in COVID-19 research. The growing need for flexible and robust solutions that will allow walk-away time and increased throughput for integrated laboratory automation became the main requirement for most research laboratories looking to limit the number of onsite workers in the lab space while continuing their research at a fast and effective way. Automating Vaccine Research Efforts Over the past year, as the world grappled with the highly contagious COVID-19 virus, the need for a vaccine became one of the top priorities. With any extremely transmittable virus, there is a need to r...