Implementation of rapid result management systems in the metals industry

A wide variety of result management systems exist for use with analytical instruments, the majority of which come under the generic term “LIMS” (Laboratory Information Management System). These systems are often both powerful and extremely comprehensive which, paradoxically, can create difficulties when attempting to apply them in certain specific application areas. In the metals industry, the need to merge analytical results from an Optical Emission spectrometer, an XRF system and Combustion analysers and transmit the merged data back to the process is a typical requirement. This is not a particularly demanding requirement in itself, and many conventional LIMS systems would be considered as an “overkill” solution. However, the crucial difference between this application and others is the fact that there may be hundreds of tonnes of molten metal awaiting the merged analytical result. When considering the energy costs related to maintaining metal in a molten state, then speed of operation is clearly the critical performance criteria for the merging and routing software in this application area. The system described here, ARMS (ARL Result Management System), shows how it is possible to design a system for result merging and routing which takes account of the speed requirement as the number one priority. Examples of system implementation are given, and the accrued benefits from the faster operation reviewed. Robotic systems automate the sample handling.