LIMS System: Explanations, Editions, and Extensions

What is a LIMS system?

A LIMS system is responsible for managing all data generated in the laboratory, from samples, methods, and recipes to personnel management. A LIMS system reaches its full potential when it is linked to existing systems and measuring devices via interfaces. This allows data to flow seamlessly from A to B without any loss of time or typing errors. And it is even possible to work on the data simultaneously from multiple locations.

Further explanations on the topic of LIMS can be found here.

What makes [FP]-LIMS special?

Modular, customizable, flexible.

[FP]-LIMS is a modular laboratory information and management system that can be configured precisely to your needs. You start with the functions you really need, such as analysis management, inspection orders, or reporting, and add additional modules as needed, such as recipe management, workflow management, or interfaces to ERP and MES systems. This allows you to avoid overloaded software, remain cost-efficient, and build your individual LIMS solution step by step.

At the same time, the LIMS system is extremely customizable and flexible: inspection plans, masks, workflows, and evaluations can be tailored to your processes, standards, and industry, from single-user laboratories to international corporations. Thanks to open interfaces, the system can be seamlessly integrated into your existing IT landscape and grows easily with new locations, additional measuring devices, or changing requirements. In short: [FP]-LIMS adapts to you, not the other way around.

Which editions of the LIMS system are available?

In addition to the free [FP]-LIMS Edition Free-LIMS, which Fink & Partner offers to non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and students, there are three other editions. These are specially tailored to different laboratory sizes and application scenarios.

[FP]-LIMS Light is the ideal entry-level solution for small laboratories with only one measuring device that want to move away from applications like Excel and toward a professional LIMS. The software takes over the entire analysis management, ensures clean, centrally organized data storage, and makes your laboratory values quickly searchable and evaluable. This gives you transparency over your measurement data, reduces manual errors, and lays the foundation for modern, digitized laboratory organization.

At the same time, [FP]-LIMS Light remains deliberately lean and cost-efficient: you start with a powerful single-user system and one connected measuring device, but can upgrade to higher editions or add additional modules at any time as your requirements grow. This makes [FP]-LIMS Light the perfect first step toward Industry 4.0: start small, stabilize processes, and then let the solution grow flexibly with your lab and your company.

[FP]-LIMS Standard is the flexible LIMS system for laboratories that need more than just a simple entry-level version. This edition offers more extensive functionality than [FP]-LIMS Light, allows multiple measuring devices to be connected, and supports more complex workflows in daily laboratory operations. Analysis management, sample tracking, central data storage, and meaningful evaluations ensure consistent transparency and efficient quality management, even in regulated environments.

Compared to the Light version, [FP]-LIMS Standard is significantly more scalable and customizable: You can integrate additional measuring devices, automate processes to a greater extent, and tailor the system precisely to your industry and laboratory size. This makes [FP]-LIMS Standard ideal for growing laboratories and medium-sized companies that want to professionalize their laboratory IT and prepare for future requirements without having to switch directly to an enterprise solution.

[FP]-LIMS Professional is the edition for laboratories and companies with high demands on data volume, teamwork, and integrations. The software supports multiple workstations, numerous measuring devices, and complex inspection processes, including cross-location scenarios. Thanks to sophisticated analysis, comparison, and reporting functions, quality and production managers can keep track of all measurement data at all times and make informed decisions more quickly.

At the same time, [FP]-LIMS Professional is consistently designed for networking and scalability: open interfaces to ERP and MES systems, a SAP-certified interface, and the option to integrate numerous additional modules (including Inspection Order Management, Recipe or Workflow management) make the solution a central data and control platform in line with Industry 4.0. This allows [FP]-LIMS Professional to grow flexibly with your laboratory, from a single department to an internationally distributed laboratory landscape.

The [FP]-LIMS modules

Analysis Management

The [FP]-LIMS Analysis Management module is the core module of the entire LIMS system and forms the heart of your LIMS. This is where all measurement and test results from your laboratories are collected, structured, traceable, and securely archived. Analysis data is centrally recorded, validated, and stored historically, allowing you to quickly access previous results, identify trends, and provide evidence for audits or customer requirements at any time.

As the foundation of the system, Analysis Management is designed to be adaptable: measurement variables, units, limit values, and masks can be individually adapted to your processes and your industry. On this basis, you can seamlessly dock additional [FP]-LIMS modules such as Inspection Order Management, Recipe Management, or Workflow Management. This allows you to start with a powerful, practical core and expand your LIMS step by step, at exactly the pace and scope your laboratory needs.

LIMS system - The [FP]-LIMS Analysis Management

Inspection Order Management

The [FP]-LIMS Inspection Order Management system complements the analysis management system with clear, structured control of all inspection orders in the laboratory. From sample registration and assignment to inspection plans and measuring devices to the release of results, you always have an overview of which orders are open, in progress, or completed. Priorities, statuses, and responsibilities are displayed transparently, allowing you to avoid bottlenecks, queries, and duplication of work and ensuring consistent traceability of every inspection order.

At the same time, Inspection Order Management creates the basis for more efficient processes in terms of quality assurance and Industry 4.0: Workflows can be configured according to your processes, release steps can be defined, and automatic notifications can be set up. In combination with other [FP]-LIMS modules, such as Analysis Management, ELN, or interfaces to ERP and MES systems, this creates a consistent digital inspection process that saves time, reduces errors, and makes your laboratory organization stable and audit-proof in the long term.

Electronic Lab Notebook

An Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) brings traditional lab documentation from paper notebooks into the digital world. Inspection orders, measurement series, observations, attachments such as images or PDFs, and team comments are recorded centrally, in a structured and audit-proof manner. This means that no notes are lost, changes remain traceable, and all participants have access to the latest documentation at all times, regardless of where they are working.

In combination with a LIMS system such as [FP]-LIMS, the ELN becomes the central knowledge repository for the laboratory: Measurement data from connected devices, inspection orders, or recipes can be linked directly to notes and evaluations. Search functions, templates, and defined workflows ensure that documentation is no longer perceived as a chore, but truly supports your daily work, from research and development to quality assurance in routine analysis.

LIMS system - The Electronic Lab Notebook ELN

Production Dashboard

The [FP]-LIMS Production Dashboard makes your quality data visible and understandable directly in production. In a central interface, you can see the most important key figures for current batches, inspection orders, and limit violations at a glance. Instead of having to check multiple systems or Excel lists, production managers, shift supervisors, and quality managers get a clear, visual representation of the current situation in real time, including warnings when values are approaching critical limits. This allows you to react more quickly before deviations lead to scrap, rework, or delivery problems.

At the same time, the Production Dashboard creates transparency about trends and correlations: Which systems or batches cause deviations more frequently? Where do certain error patterns occur more often? By directly linking laboratory and production data, you can identify optimization potential much more quickly and make informed decisions about process improvement. The result: less scrap, more stable quality, and a traceable, data-based foundation for your production control.

Recipe Management

[FP]-LIMS Recipe Management helps you control complex mixtures and alloys reliably and reproducibly. All recipes, including target values, tolerances, raw material and batch information, are managed centrally in the LIMS system. This ensures that the laboratory, production, and quality assurance departments always have access to the same, verified data and that each batch meets the defined specifications. Changes to recipes remain fully traceable, which gives you security vis-à-vis customers, auditors, and internal requirements.

In conjunction with Inspection Order Management and the Production Dashboard, Recipe Management unfolds its full potential: Deviations between target and actual values become visible at an early stage, corrective suggestions can be derived, and the consumption of raw materials can be optimized. If desired, recipes can be linked to existing ERP or MES systems, creating a continuous, digital flow of information from recipe development through production to final quality testing.

Workflow Management

[FP]-LIMS Workflow Management connects all work steps in the laboratory to form consistent, clearly defined processes. From sample receipt and measurement to release and feedback to production or the ERP system, tasks are mapped in logically coordinated steps. Responsibilities, deadlines, and quality rules are stored transparently so that everyone in the team knows exactly what to do next. Manual handovers, paperwork, and misunderstandings are a thing of the past.

At the same time, Workflow Management ensures maximum flexibility: processes can be adapted precisely to your company processes, standards, and customer requirements and expanded or optimized at any time as needed. Automatic status changes, notifications, and escalations help you shorten response times and reduce errors. This transforms [FP]-LIMS from a mere data storage facility into the active control center of your laboratory and quality management.

Workflow Actions

Workflow Actions in [FP]-LIMS are small automated processes that keep your processes running in the background, quickly, reliably, and without errors. You define once what should happen in a specific event, and the system does the rest: automatically create inspection orders, change statuses, notify responsible persons, transfer data to ERP/MES, generate documents, or trigger approvals. This turns rigid procedures into intelligent, responsive processes that noticeably reduce your team’s workload.

At the same time, Workflow Actions increase process reliability: manual intermediate steps, paperwork, and “Can you remember to…?” are replaced by clearly defined rules. Every action is documented and traceable, ideal for audits, compliance requirements, and professional quality management. Whether it’s a simple email notification or a complex chain of several follow-up actions, Workflow Actions turn [FP]-LIMS into an active control tool for your everyday laboratory and production work.

Validation Module

The [FP]-LIMS Validation Module, formerly known as the ICP Module, ensures that only verified, plausible measured values are entered into your LIMS system. The module performs automated plausibility and quality checks on your analysis data, for example through limit value checks, comparison with reference samples, trend analysis, or deviation analysis. Abnormal values are marked, can be returned for re-testing, or documented with comments and causes. This significantly increases the data quality in the system and creates a reliable basis for evaluations, audits, and decisions.

At the same time, the validation module can be flexibly adapted to your own rules and standards. Check and release schemes, responsibilities, escalation paths, and documentation requirements can be configured according to your internal QA specifications, from simple dual control release to complex multi-level workflows. In combination with Analysis Management, Inspection Order Management, and other [FP]-LIMS modules, this creates a consistent, audit-proof validation process that reduces errors, creates transparency, and reliably supports your compliance requirements.

Certified SAP interface

The SAP interface of [FP]-LIMS connects your laboratory directly to your SAP world, without media breaks and double data entries. Test orders, batches, material master data, and analysis results are automatically exchanged between [FP]-LIMS and SAP. This means that laboratory results flow directly back into SAP QM, purchasing, or production, for example, while test batches and master data from SAP can be conveniently used in the LIMS. This ensures consistent, error-free processes and a uniform database throughout the entire company.

At the same time, the SAP interface remains flexibly configurable: It can be adapted to your individual master data structures, processes, and posting scenarios, from goods receipt to in-process control to final inspection. Whether classic SAP QM or S/4HANA: [FP]-LIMS integrates seamlessly into your existing system landscape and makes your laboratory an integrated part of the digital value chain.

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