LabWare LIMS from the company of the same name in Delaware is offered as an enterprise class laboratory information management system, touting feature breadth and its all-encompassing functionality.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
Systems Analyst in Information Technology at Solvay (10,001+ employees employees)
Pros
The LIMS Basic code that supports the standard LabWare functionality. From time to time, and user may request to have LabWare perform some function that is slightly different than standard functionality, or completely new to LabWare. Through LIMS Basic. and other standard functionality (such as Event Triggers and Automation Scripts), you can customize LabWare to do just about anything you want. I always tell the users ... "before you ask, the answer is always 'Yes ... LabWare can do that!'".
The use of roles to significantly helps facilitate the management of security within the system.
Interfacing with instruments through the use of LabStation helps improve lab workflow and reduce data input errors.
Cons
The management of Event Triggers can stand to use some improvement. Especially when it comes to using the "DEFAULT" template event versus the specific template event.
Licenses are considered "concurrent". But LabWare does not have a feature that tells me (at any level) what my peak license usage is. For example ... if I own 100 licenses, LabWare will tell me at any given time how many licenses I am using. But it won't tell me at the end of the day, week, or month, what my peak usage was. So if I own 100 licenses, and I look at my usage right now, it might say I am using 50 licenses out of 100. Does this mean I have 50 too many licenses? Probably not. I just need a way of telling what my peak usage is so that if I want to roll LabWare out to another site, do I need to buy more licenses? Or will my 100 cover for it?
Importing data into static data tables is not well done in LabWare ... or even available. I can do it outside of LabWare with database management tools such as TOAD. But it is up to me to make sure all the tables and columns are populated correctly. It would be nice to have a feature within LabWare to do import data (from Excel spreadsheet for example) directly into some of the main tables.
Return on Investment
Very positive. It allows the production units to increase volumes (and thus sampling) with minor impact on the lab.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
Verified User
Director in Research & Development (501-1000 employees employees)
Pros
One of the strengths of this program, as previously stated, is to track your sample through the entire testing process, from log-in to results reporting.
It is also handy to generate reports of sample results using the LabWare LIMS program.
LabWare LIMS provides a great way to preserve testing results electronically for future needs.
Cons
LabWare LIMS seems somewhat intuitive, but there is room for improvement in the user controls. It can be difficult or confusing sometimes to find the exact sample that you are looking for.
Return on Investment
Good sample management program. You do not lose track of your samples.
Part 11 Compliant, and seems to be well-tolerated by Regulatory agencies.