Product Engineering Services & Solutions blending Applied Sciences with Technologies
Case Study: LIMS Product Development
Modernizing and extending legacy LIMS framework and building customized LIMS applications with it.
Client
The client is a leading life sciences and analytical products company based in North America. They manufacture and market instrumentation products and solutions in the areas of Life Sciences, Diagnostics, Environmental and Applied Markets.
Challenges
Background:
- The LIMS product was written in a legacy programming language. The enhancement road map for this product included migration and re-architecting this to take advantage of the latest technologies and frameworks.
- The product revamp envisioned a large team that couldn’t be allocated internally for the time lines planned.
Problem Statement:
Create a foundation of a core LIMS framework for plug-in applications and customizations based on the end user needs.
Transition the product from a client-server application to a web based system and to add the ability to migrate older LIMS data to be used with the newer product.
Solution
Overview:
Re-design the legacy system before migrating to the .NET platform. Building and enhancing LIMS platform / framework. Creating base applications using the new LIMS framework.
Details:
Key components of the new product are:
- LIMS framework that include:
- a. Authentication , Licensing/License Management
- b. Audit Trail
- c. State management
- d. User Messaging and email integration
- Business components that include:
- a. Calculation /rounding engine
- b. Specifications management
- c. Sample management
- Data Viewer component
- QA / QC Application
- Instrument Interfacing and Results Management
- Data archival
Value Addition:
- Single site data configuration, customization and diagnostics management in a multi-site setup.
- On-demand reporting by virtue of template creation tools.
- Fully managed Application Life-cycle Management customization using MS Team Foundation Server.
- Lifecycle was transitioned from waterfall to agile scrum based on evolving requirements.
Benefits
Technology:
- An integrated architecture that allows legacy components to co-exist with client-server and web applications.
- Use of UX enhancing components and proven frameworks like PRISM.
- Service oriented architecture that helps re-usability in windows, web and mobile environments.
- System can be enhanced by third-party developers with the framework/plug-in concept.
Business:
- Became an extension of the client’s technical team
- Reduced time to market.
- The customer and the end users now has access to an experienced and knowledgeable technical resource pool.
- Ongoing relationship for maintenance and enhancement activities.