USING LIMS TO DELIVER ON CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS

The complexity of alumina refinery operation demands a wide range of chemical and physical analyses of a large number of sample streams. The value of analysis results is dependent on them being both accurate and timely.

Since 2005, the Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) laboratory has been using a laboratory information management system (LIMS) to report analysis results to plant customers.

Although the initial system only handled analysis results of routine plant samples, significant recent additions involved more than just conveyance of numbers to databases. Examples include instant notification to laboratory personnel of actions required based on results generated, dashboard notification of pending laboratory maintenance and quality control activities, special analysis requests and managing systems around accredited environmental analyses.

During this evolution, applications within the LIMS have been developed to automatically collect data from a wide range of instruments as equipment and analysis requirements have changed over time. Data flows through a number of checking stages before reporting, with the final checking stage dependant on laboratory technicians using simple visual indicators.

Customers include process engineers, control room supervisors, environmental specialists, commercial representatives and others - all with varying needs and expectations, and the means of delivering on these expectations are as varied as the customers’ needs.