Case Study

LIMS – Laboratory Information Management System

Our Role: Overall Project Management / IT Manager

Our client

Huber Engineered Materials

04/2020 – 11/2021

The project involved integrating both modern and legacy-based laboratory equipment into the LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System). While new equipment could be connected via standardized APIs or modern protocols, the integration of older hardware required dedicated interface solutions, often based on SFTP transfers, file monitoring, or manual triggers.

The data was prepared, validated, and then transferred to central databases. These fed, among other things, dashboards in Power BI and the central ERP system based on Oracle.

Initial Situation | Objectives

Connecting old and new lab equipment to a central system
Reduction of manual data entry
Secure, automated data flow to downstream systems (e.g., Power BI, Oracle)
Scalable architecture for future locations
Ensure IT security

Duties | Responsibilities

Concept of the overall solution
Technical integration of various device generations
Interface Development and Connection
Coordination between laboratory, IT, security, and external service providers
Ensuring continuous data flow into BI and ERP systems

Key areas:

Analysis and Categorization of Laboratory Equipment by Age, Interfacability, and Data Output Format
Development of an interface framework that enables both low-tech transfer (SFTP/File) and modern API-based integrations
Design of a Robust Logging and Error Handling System for Traceability and Quality Assurance
Close coordination with IT security to harden transmission paths and integrate them into existing IDMZ strategies
Training of laboratory personnel and knowledge transfer for internal follow-up

Technologies & Methods

LIMS Systems: Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS
Interfaces: SFTP, REST APIs, CSV/XML Parsers
Databases: Oracle, SQL
Reporting: Power BI
Scripting languages: Python, PowerShell (for file and trigger logic)
IT Security: DMZ, Logging, Authentication Policies
Project Methodology: Agile Approach with Iterative Development and Phased Testing

Overall Project Management / IT Manager

Results

Weidehoff Business Solutions

Over 90 % laboratory devices were automatically connected
The amount of manual data entry decreased by approximately 75%
The data volume has been consolidated and can now be centrally evaluated.
The connection to Power BI provides real-time actionable insights for production and quality assurance.
The architecture's setup is scalable and can be rolled out internationally.
Acceptance within the lab team is high – through training, practical relevance, and clearly understandable processes.