Impact of laboratory automation and informatics at Mufulira analytical laboratories

Abstract

Mopani Copper Mines has been experiencing late process of result reporting at its Analytical Laboratory. The delay in reporting results has been attributed to increased number of samples and analyses that are required within standard laboratory practices. Because Analytical Laboratories desire to enhance their performance as a way of increasing operational capacity, reduce operational costs, and improve cash flow, technological trends which elevate experimental data quality and reduce laboratory turnaround times were adapted at Mufulira Analytical Services Department. The study was undertaken to assess the impact of laboratory automation and informatics on the cost of operations, production output and quality of operations. Primary and secondary data was collected and analysed on a sample population size that included employees from the Analytical Services Department and client departments. The research study made the following conclusions: (i) Automation and Informatics has resulted in improvement on the performance of operations of analytical laboratory, with the increase of 5.03 per cent on the number of samples analysed, cumulating to 1,344 number of samples in reference to the months of July and August in the base year of 2013. (ii) There was a reduction in costs as a result of automation and informatics as evidenced on savings of 32.83 per cent on overtime hours, which cumulated to 1,331.34 hours saved, with reference to the base year 2013. (iii) Automation and informatics has resulted in reduction of errors and an improvement in the performance quality of the analytical laboratory. (iv) Post-automation and informatics was better than pre-automation and informatics. In order to reduce costs, increase cash flow and improve performance, the study recommended that Mufulira Analytical Services Department should scale up automation of its laboratory processes.