Informatics in R&D

Author: Joe Liscouski

Date: November 2022

In an earlier article1, we looked at the role laboratory information management systems (LIMS) played in manufacturing/production operations, as well as their relationship to other control/database systems. This article is going to shift the focus to the source of those manufactured/production operations: research and development.

Before we get into informatics, let’s look at the working environment. Figure 1 shows the functions we need to consider. That model is based on the author’s experience; however, it fits many applied research groups in different industries whose work is intended to lead to new/improved products. The names of the labs may change to include microbiology, toxicology, electronics, forensics, etc. but the functional behavior will be similar.