http://www.LabOnline.com.au | http://www.LifeScientist.com.au LAB+LIFE SCIENTIST - Feb/Mar 2019 | 17
Top tips
when implementing a
new automation workflow
preparation
Preparing for automation of your workflow can
help you save plenty of time in choosing the
right robot and using it efficiently. Robots are
not magical creatures. The assay that is being
evaluated for automation must work manually,
ie, on the bench. If it doesn’t, it is highly unlikely
that automation alone will solve the problems
with the protocol. If the plan is to miniaturise an
assay with automation, it’s important to test that it
works. Once the goal is clearly defined, automating
that becomes straightforward and easy to verify.
And once the simple version is automated, the
user has successfully achieved the goal, or is well
placed to turn that feasibility step into a high-
throughput reality.liquid handling
Hal WehrenbergTraining
Robots can’t replace people (just yet). Good
automation requires the brains, lab expertise and
problem-solving skills of a human being with a
technical mindset. Appoint a person with aptitude,
enthusiasm, problem-solving skills, a strong
assay understanding and interest in software/
instrumentation in the role of automation specialist.
The ideal candidate will see this as a career step. It
doesn’t mean that they will be operating robots all
their life; this responsibility could help them get
promoted to the post of a lab manager or become
responsible for a discovery project.Implementation
It’s important to remember that it will take time
to get the first run right. There will be plenty of
opportunities for optimisation, minor adjustments,
as well as major improvements. Implementing
miniaturisation of the assay can lead to significant
savings on costly reagents, resulting in a return on
investment beyond time and robust reproducibility.
By allocating time for this in the project, the
robot can provide significant leverage for assay
standardisation across different sites.Compliance
The robot may have features that could help comply
with industry regulations and opportunities,
such as audit trails and electronic signatures.
Documentation of processes can help meet quality
standards. Understand which norms impact using
an instrument in a compliant fashion (or find the
person in your company who understands) and
assess in advance of purchasing how automation
fits in your processes. Talk to the vendor about the
features of the instrument, and identify experts
within your organisation who understand what is
essential in regards to automation.return on investment
Making a capital equipment investment, especially
if it’s your company’s first shiny new robot, is a
sign of success and can excite everyone, including
top management. Those who aren’t actively
involved in planning may expect the ROI to start
on day one after the installation. That’s rarely
the case. Ensure that everyone understands the
implementation of the instrument will be done
with purpose, systematically and successfully. Show
them your game plan — it creates confidence in
your approach. The ROI is real and significant, but
it is often measured over years, not days. Keeping
expectations realistic may be the key to success.
Tecan Australia
http://www.tecan.com.auplanning to implement a new
automation workflow in your lab?
here are some tips to ensure a
fast, smooth implementation.