Introduction of a new Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

Wilmar Sugar has been capturing laboratory data with paper records and subsequent terminal entry into a server running VMS operating system for the last 30+ years. However, the ability to support and enhance the system has diminished over time due to the age of the hardware and availability of people familiar with these systems. Thus, design and implementation of a new laboratory information management system (LIMS) was proposed. Several off-the-shelf products were assessed, but none was found to be fully fit for purpose. A bespoke system was developed through a collaboration of internal resources and two external software development companies. In addition to replacing existing functionality, the new LIMS provided the following key features: data entry through portable devices; automated workflow and data validation; and data read directly from instruments where possible. This allowed the move towards a paperless laboratory while also avoiding transcription and manual calculation errors. This new system has been implemented and deployed to seven of the eight Wilmar Sugar mills during the 2023 crushing season for cane-payment analyses. Deployment at the final site is planned for the start of the 2024 crushing season with extension of the system to cover factory control analyses to follow.