Potential of Laboratory Execution Systems (LESs) to Simplify the Application of Business Process Management Systems (BPMSs) in Laboratory Automation

Abstract

Modern business process management (BPM) is increasingly interesting for laboratory automation. End-to-end workflow automation and improved top-level systems integration for information technology (IT) and automation systems are especially prominent objectives. With the ISO Standard Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) 2.X, a system-independent and interdisciplinary accepted graphical process control notation is provided, allowing process analysis, while also being executable. The transfer of BPM solutions to structured laboratory automation places novel demands, for example, concerning the real-time-critical process and systems integration. The article discusses the potential of laboratory execution systems (LESs) for an easier implementation of the business process management system (BPMS) in hierarchical laboratory automation. In particular, complex application scenarios, including long process chains based on, for example, several distributed automation islands and mobile laboratory robots for a material transport, are difficult to handle in BPMSs. The presented approach deals with the displacement of workflow control tasks into life science specialized LESs, the reduction of numerous different interfaces between BPMSs and subsystems, and the simplification of complex process modelings. Thus, the integration effort for complex laboratory workflows can be significantly reduced for strictly structured automation solutions. An example application, consisting of a mixture of manual and automated subprocesses, is demonstrated by the presented BPMS-LES approach.

Process management: systematic review of determining factors for automation

“…In this context, BPMS must increase its degree of automation to be flexible for process management (Marrella, 2019). BPM is gaining importance for process automation, aiming to automate end-to-end workflows and integrate systems (Neubert et al, 2017). The development of information technology provides the evolution of BPM, which tends to encompass the functionality to support processes of different natures.…”

Process analytics 4.0: A paradigm shift in rapid analytics for biologics development

“…75 LESs are capable of automatically recording and managing data associated with laboratory equipment such as analytical balances, pH meters, and chromatographic instruments. 76 Data review, approval, auditing are some of the post-data analysis functions that LIMSs offer, followed by reporting of results to the customers. 74 As part of Good Laboratory Practices; the results, methodologies, sample, and instrument information must be recorded in ELNs.…”

“…Upon completion of laboratory tests, the results and associated metadata are automatically piped into the LIMS systems through a proper LES 75 . LESs are capable of automatically recording and managing data associated with laboratory equipment such as analytical balances, pH meters, and chromatographic instruments 76 . Data review, approval, auditing are some of the post‐data analysis functions that LIMSs offer, followed by reporting of results to the customers 74 .…”

Integrating Mobile Robots into Automated Laboratory Processes: A Suitable Workflow Management System

“…For complex automation processes, the HWMS provides greater process proximity and simplifies the process planning significantly, in contrast to a pure BPMS solution. 6…”