Enterprise as the Brain of Your Laboratory
The laboratory environment is often fast-paced and intense. There can be significant pressure on human operators to be as efficient as possible, sticking to critical deadlines while juggling many details. And while some days run smoothly with no hiccups, there are inevitably periods of chaos, due to a tight deadline, sick days, or other unexpected problems. When this happens, there’s a real risk that something will fall through the cracks. After all, even the best lab manager is still human.
However, as the rubber industry becomes increasingly competitive, laboratories will need to become even more productive and efficient, with less and less room for error. There is a real need for a powerful tool that equips lab managers and technicians to do more.
Say Hello to Enterprise
Enterprise is laboratory management software for the next generation of the rubber industry. Enterprise connects every instrument in a company’s entire laboratory environment, whether that’s a single room or a global network of facilities. Enterprise makes it easy to create and store test methods, access and analyze data, uncover deeper insights, troubleshoot unexpected inconsistencies, and more. In short, Enterprise equips laboratory managers with the tools they need to do more than they ever thought possible by serving as the brain of the lab.
Here are three powerful examples of how Enterprise can share the cognitive load:
Enterprise Has an Excellent Memory
A successful laboratory runs on countless details, from quality assurance data trends to test specifics to calibration schedules and more. Managing and accessing these details is much easier with Enterprise. Enterprise stores virtually unlimited data from an entire network of testing equipment. And with Enterprise’s advanced search capabilities, lab managers and technicians can pull highly specialized reports with just a few clicks.
Enterprise also removes the margin of error that is inevitable with even the best human operators. The laboratory software stores test specs and serial numbers directly in the system, so there’s no manual data entry and no risk of typos that could distort future reports, minimizing the risk of typos. The result is more accurate data and smoother lab operations—even across multiple labs.
Enterprise Saves Time
In the world of production and manufacturing, efficiency is everything. Processes are optimized down to the second, and every minute wasted comes with a cost. Enterprise works behind the scenes to help laboratory managers and technicians be more productive by eliminating downtime and handling small tasks on their behalf.
An excellent example is cure testing. A typical cure test runs for about 10 minutes, but the curing process may be completed much sooner. In the past, there was no way to determine whether the test was fully cured without opening the instrument and ending the test. Today, Enterprise has an intelligent program that can detect when curing is complete automatically, end the test, and alert the technician so that they can change the sample. This feature can cut tens of minutes of total test time, allowing the lab to conduct more cure tests per day.
Enterprise can save administrative time, as well. The software can be programmed for something as simple as printing reports automatically. Removing even just a few small tasks from a laboratory technician’s busy agenda can streamline their workday and create space for more important activities.
Case Study: Solve Problems Faster with Enterprise.
Enterprise is perhaps most powerful in a pinch. In one use case, a rubber company encountered a problem with one of their mixers and had to spend nine months sorting through data before they were able to identify and address the issue. After the company integrated with Enterprise, they had a similar problem. Using Enterprise’s powerful reporting tools, they found the source of the problem and fixed it in less than a week.
Enterprise offers unparalleled around-the-clock support because we understand that issues can arise at any time. Alpha’s dedicated software support engineers provide near 24/7 coverage to ensure your lab remains operational and resilient. For instance, there was an incident where a lab manager accidentally deleted their entire network, including Enterprise results, on a Saturday at 10 PM EST, which led to a halt in production. In a state of panic, they reached out to our support engineers, and within hours, we had restored their entire database and got them back up and running.
Enterprise Thinks Like a Six Sigma Black Belt.
In a fast-paced laboratory, a technician or manager may have to make a dozen or more judgment calls every day, based on a long list of criteria. If something goes wrong and troubleshooting is added to their mental load, the risk of overwhelm and decision fatigue is high.
Enterprise is the solution. Enterprise software offers a powerful add-on called process manager which can be programmed to think and make decisions based on the needs of the laboratory. Process manager can:
- Execute custom logic systems for different scenarios.
- Alert laboratory operators to trends in the data that may indicate a need for human intervention.
- Flag failed product for faster troubleshooting and management.
Enterprise’s intelligent automation capabilities are virtually endless and can be customized based on the specifications of a given scenario. Lab operators can trust Enterprise to make their jobs easier and their labs more efficient so the company can meet its goals.
Enterprise: The Next Generation of Laboratory Software.
For most instrument manufacturers, laboratory software is a necessary evil only used to make the instruments run. For Alpha Technologies, it’s a point of pride. Enterprise is a user-friendly tool for streamlining mundane operations and an intelligent system that elevates laboratory operations to ensure optimum performance.
The user-friendly interface of Enterprise’s workbench program is accessible for everyone. This intuitive design not only simplifies everyday tasks but also seamlessly integrates into existing workflows. Enterprise’s open-ended design ensures that the program can learn and grow intelligently with any expanding business, from small family-owned production facilities to global entities.
Enterprise is the gateway to the next generation of laboratory operations. To learn more about Enterprise, talk to a member of the Alpha Technologies team