Book Format (sized to be easily used):

• 8 1/2 in. by 11 in.,
• comb binding ,
• approx. 100 pages
• ISBN: 978-0-9802240-0-9
• Language: English .

Price: $45 + shipping/handling
Item #: LAE-B-001

The Guide is undergoing revision which should be available in the Fall of 2009. Those ordering the current version will be offered the new version at a cost equal to the difference in prices plus shipping.

Quantity Discounts Available

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Interested in a course for Laboratory Management?

About the Title: Laboratory Automation is often viewed as a technology issue. What is overlooked is the role management plays in setting criteria for the design and implementation of systems that are compatible with each other, and meet the labs long-term goals. The purpose of this guide is to provide the means of developing the framework needed for automation technology management.

Why "Engineering"?   Our intent is to help lab managers and those working in labs to have automation and computing systems that will do what they need to do, be supportable, and be adaptable to changes in products and technologies without having to start from scratch. That requires thinking through requirements, a solid design and implementation plan, and a well managed development program. Our engineering approach does that.

Computers, robotics, and intelligent instruments have become commonplace in the laboratory. As a result the role of laboratory management has been expanded to include the management of technology, and technology utilization as part of laboratory business practices. What automation technologies are the most cost effective? How do you justify them? How do you implement systems that won't have to be completely replaced prematurely.

Successful laboratory automation programs depend on planning. This guide provides managers with the tools they need to:

• develop the policies and practices necessary to define an effective laboratory automation program, and,
• a methodology for examining the protocols and test procedures used in lab work to determine how automation can be best applied.

Whether you are concerned with a single lab or large R&D complex, the material in this guide can improve the effectiveness of your work and the return on the investment in resources.

The material in the guide covers:

• 10 major policy elements including: intellectual property management, process management, integration, validation, change management, security, working with IT groups, software development practices, project scheduling, and, system retention.
• The development of workflow models that can be applied to research, collaborative systems, quality control, analytical testing, physical properties labs, clinical labs, and show their interaction with each other as well as other departments such as process control in a manufacturing environment.

Successful systems, those that meet their objectives,  are supportable and can be gracefully upgraded as needed, are not the result of fix-the-bottleneck methodologies .  They are the result of design-against-a-plan methods.

The benefits of the LAE approach include:

• improving the effectiveness of automation systems, and their ability to be supported,
• reducing laboratory operating costs and improving ROI,
• meeting the demands of regulatory agencies,
• a basis for coordinating the work of IT groups, outside contractors & equipment vendors,
• protect / enhance the value of the labs intellectual property, and,
• make the most effective use of people's talents.

Click here to view a portion of the introduction - PDF format

About the Author
Joe Liscouski has been working in laboratory automation since the 1970's and has extensive experience designing and implementing systems for physical and life science applications. This guide is part of his work on developing an engineering approach to laboratory automation.

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