NetBookingLIMS : automation of workflow within core genetics laboratories using a novel Internet-based information management system

NetBookingLIMS is Internet-based software used for the total automation of workflow within core diagnostic or genetics laboratories. NetBookingLIMS organises all data incoming into the laboratory in a flat file and converts it to a relational database that can be used to generate auditing, billing, troubleshooting and usage reports. Also, it generates instrument compatible data and organises the day-to-day management of the laboratory in an efficient and structured manner. It is written using Perl5 and C and designed to run solely using an Internet browser. NetBookingLIMS software as well as a user manual and documentation are available at http://dcs.bbk.ac.uk/˜ahamo01/nblfrontpage.cgi.     

工作流系统时间管理

时间管理是工作流管理软件系统的关键部分,也是工作流技术实施复杂企业应用的严重局限.开展时间管理研究,对于增强工作流管理软件系统的柔性、确保工作流计划的高效执行和提高企业的竞争力具有重要意义.时间管理的关键在于时间信息的有效建模.首先介绍了工作流管理系统的时间问题.其次,综述了时间建模与分析的研究现状,包括时间约束的建模、时序一致性验证与时间违反的处理.最后,基于对现有研究方法的分析与评价,指出了工作流系统时间管理的发展方向.时间管理的支持对于开发灵活性和实用性的工作流管理系统具有重要的指导意义.     

工作流管理的发展历程和趋势

工作流管理被誉为信息系统的后勤,它让合适的人或软件在恰当的时间执行正确的工作,使计算机上的业务处理流程自动化。本文用历史的观点对工作流管理的发展历程进行了回顾,揭示了工作流管理对未来信息系统的影响。根据分析当前的工作流管理系统,我们总结出流程建模和系统结构方面的不足,并对工作流管理的未来发展趋势从建模和
和实施两个方面进行了预测。     

Dynamic data sharing and security in a collaborative product definition management system

Product definition management (PDM) is a system that supports management of both engineering data and the product development process during the total product life cycle. The formation of a virtual enterprise is becoming a growing trend, and vendors of PDM systems have recently developed a new generation of PDM systems called collaborative product definition management (cPDM). This paper presents the concept of a virtual engineering community (VEC) to support concurrent product development within geographically distributed partners. A previous case study has shown that collaborative engineering design may be modelled from a parameter perspective [1]. Effective implementation of the parameter approach raises the following problems: how to support data sharing and secure that span the partner borders. This paper describes the system architecture, deployed security mechanisms, the prototype developed within cPDM, and the system demonstration using a real test. The implementation of this architecture extends a common commercial PDM system (Axalan™) and utilizes standard software to create a security framework for the involved resources. Collaboration infrastructure, shared team spaces and shared resources are essential to enable virtual teams to work together. Various organizational and technical challenges are implied. The outlined architecture features a federated data approach. These issues are discussed and potential perspectives in the area of collaboration engineering are identified.     

Web Service Composition Using a Deductive XML Rule Language

This paper describes a knowledge-based Web Service composition system, called SWIM, which is based on the Service Domain model. Service Domains are communities of related Web Services that are mediated by a single Web Service, called the Mediator Service, which functions as a proxy for them. When a requestor sends a message to the Mediator Service one or more of the related Web Services are selected to dispatch the message and the results returned are aggregated to a single answer to the requestor. Mediator Services can be further composed to more complex Mediator Services that combine several selection and aggregation algorithms among many heterogeneous web services. The system utilizes the X-DEVICE deductive XML rule language for defining complex algorithms for selecting registered web services, combining the results, and synchronizing the workflow of information among the combined web services in a declarative way. In the paper, we demonstrate the flexibility and expressibility of our approach for composing Web Services using several e-business examples, covering most of the workflow patterns found in a comprehensive workflow management system (van der Aalst et al., Distributed and Parallel Databases, vol. 14, no, 1, pp. 5–15, 2003).     

工作流管理的现状和未来趋势

工作流管理是一个新兴的研究领域,被誉为信息系统的后勤,它让合适的人或软件在恰当的时间执行正确的工作,使计算机上的业务处理流程自动化。本文用历史的观点对工作流管理的发展历程进行了回顾,揭示了工作流管理对未来信息系统的影响。根据分析当前的工作流管理系统,我们总结了两个主要不足之处;（1）工作流管理系统的定义不明确以及缺乏统一的概念模型,（2）工作流管理系统的系统结构和能力上的不足,并对工作流管理的未来发展趋势从建模和实施两个方面进行了预测。     

An overview of workflow management: From process modeling to workflow automation infrastructure

Today's business enterprises must deal with global competition, reduce the cost of doing business, and rapidly develop new services and products. To address these requirements enterprises must constantly reconsider and optimize the way they do business and change their information systems and applications to support evolving business processes. Workflow technology facilitates these by providing methodologies and software to support (i) business process modeling to capture business processes as workflow specifications, (ii) business process reengineering to optimize specified processes, and (iii) workflow automation to generate workflow implementations from workflow specifications. This paper provides a high-level overview of the current workflow management methodologies and software products. In addition, we discuss the infrastructure technologies that can address the limitations of current commercial workflow technology and extend the scope and mission of workflow management systems to support increased workflow automation in complex real-world environments involving heterogeneous, autonomous, and distributed information systems. In particular, we discuss how distributed object management and customized transaction management can support further advances in the commercial state of the art in this area. Recomended by: Omran Bukhres and e. Kühn     

工作流管理系统中的数据流传输优化

在分布式工作流程管理系统中,由于工作流引擎分散在不同的区域,因此工作流程中数据传输是一个值得研究的问题。本文提出了一种新型的分布式工作流管理系统中数据流的传输策略。定义了一个工作流模型表示法-控制与数据流图CDFG,用于观察数据流存在的问题;提出了具有数据流传输优化机制的工作流系统架构DTO DWfMS和支持该架构的数据流传输语言DFTL。利用DFTL设计者能够以程序设计的方式定义工作流中活动对数据的作用情形和活动之间的数据传输策略。利用该架构和语言设计的工作流系统具有最佳的数据传输功能,可在不需要等待程序代码、数据且正常的情况下完成工作流的执行,以降低网络的负载并提高整体执行效率。     

ECA rule-based support for workflows

The use of event–condition–action (ECA) rules has transformed database systems from passive query-based data repositories to active sources of information delivery. In a similar fashion, ECA rules can be used to benefit workflow systems. In this paper, a software framework known as STEP workflow management facility is proposed in order to manage collaborative and distributed workflows and to provide interfaces to object management group-compliant product data management systems. Issues related to implementation using open standards such as CORBA are discussed. A key point underlying the framework is the flexibility it affords to users to re-configure the system according to evolving needs in collaborative product development.     

Automated in situ hybridisation using Tecan robotics: a kick-start for Functional Genomics

High throughput parallel organic synthesis is now a common practice in discovery chemistry research. Argonaut's modular reaction cassette technology is aimed at parallel synthesis of focused small molecule libraries. The Trident™ automated platform has been designed to perform high throughput organic synthesis using this modular reaction cassette under truly inert conditions and in a robust, reproducible manner. This enables one to generate high quality libraries of small molecules and to access chemistry not normally amenable to automation.Recently we have introduced a Sample Processing Station (SPS), which enhances the upstream and downstream sample handling capabilities of the Trident™ platform. Enhanced software capabilities also provide the Trident™ synthesizer with powerful reaction development and optimization capabilities. Application of this technology in the synthesis of a small library of 1,2-diarylbenzimidazoles using solution-phase chemistry is presented. A number of product purification and isolation protocols using polymer-bound scavengers are discussed.     

实验室信息管理系统的分析与设计

本文阐述了采用标准化的实验室管理思想、计算机网络、工作流技术、表单自定义技术、软件适配器技术构建开放的分布式实验室管理系统的设计方案。     

Stochastic programming and scenario generation within a simulation framework: An information systems perspective

Stochastic programming brings together models of optimum resource allocation and models of randomness to create a robust decision-making framework. The models of randomness with their finite, discrete realisations are called scenario generators. In this paper, we investigate the role of such a tool within the context of a combined information and decision support system. We explain how two well-developed modelling paradigms, decision models and simulation models can be combined to create “business analytics” which is based on ex-ante decision and ex-post evaluation. We also examine how these models can be integrated with data marts of analytic organisational data and decision data. Recent developments in on-line analytical processing (OLAP) tools and multidimensional data viewing are taken into consideration. We finally introduce illustrative examples of optimisation, simulation models and results analysis to explain our multifaceted view of modelling. In this paper, our main objective is to explain to the information systems (IS) community how advanced models and their software realisations can be integrated with advanced IS and DSS tools.     

Incorporating Automation in Undergraduate Laboratories

Automated techniques and philosophies, which have become increasingly important in modern laboratories, are not traditionally covered in undergraduate chemistry curricula. To this end, we have been incorporating automated sample preparation methods using standard robotic workstations in our undergraduate analytical chemistry laboratory. Using a Benchmate™ II Workstation, an automated method has been developed and implemented for the solid phase extraction of capsaicins from commercial hot pepper sauces prior to liquid chromatographic analysis. This paper reports on pedagogical aspects of incorporating automation into the undergraduate curriculum as well as results obtained for manual and automated extractions conducted by students.     

ERP data sharing framework using the Generic Product Model (GPM)

Nowadays, all product life cycle processes are investigated deeply in order to get an advantage over competitors. To support these processes, several software applications are available. However, this wide range of heterogeneous applications leads to a large variety of hardware and operating systems, data management software, data models, schemas, and data semantics that hinder the information sharing process. To tackle this problem, Hitachi Company has developed a modeling language called Generic Product Model (GPM) in addition to several translators from native formats to GPM for storing, sharing and visualizing product data in a single data warehouse. In order to broaden the range of application data able to be stored and shared using the GPM data warehouse, this paper presents a methodology and a translator that allow management data to be included in a GPM data warehouse. Given the fact that most management data are stored in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, and that the latter allows extraction of database contents into Excel files, we propose a translator that handles Enterprise Resource Planning management data that are already extracted into Excel Format.The proposed framework enables data management contained in flat Excel Files to be translated into structured GPM data. Translation methodologies are given for the translation of mass production and customized product data through two case studies, one in the computer retail sector and the other in the extrusion machine industry.     

工作流管理平台的设计及其在自助服务中的应用

随着信息技术的普及,工作流技术在信息、制造和软件领域得到了广泛的应用,越来越多的企业引入了工作流引擎和工作流管理平台来管理日常的业务流程.但目前大部分工作流管理平台都有自己的业务背景并且对系统环境、接口有自己特定的要求,在不同企业之间移植会碰见水土不服的情况.本文针对银行间债券市场债券账户开户及信息披露的业务特点,基于J2EE和SOA架构,根据WFMC发布的工作流管理平台参考模型,自主设计并开发了一套工作流管理平台,并在上面成功实施相关的自助服务流程.这是工作流技术首次在银行间市场开户和信息披露等方面的应用,它较好的提高了银行间市场自助开户以及信息披露等工作的效率.从性能测试的结果来看,平台的并发性和稳定性也能满足目前业务需求.     

Workflow simulation for operational decision support

Simulation is widely used as a tool for analyzing business processes but is mostly focused on examining abstract steady-state situations. Such analyses are helpful for the initial design of a business process but are less suitable for operational decision making and continuous improvement. Here we describe a simulation system for operational decision support in the context of workflow management. To do this we exploit not only the workflow’s design, but also use logged data describing the system’s observed historic behavior, and incorporate information extracted about the current state of the workflow. Making use of actual data capturing the current state and historic information allows our simulations to accurately predict potential near-future behaviors for different scenarios. The approach is supported by a practical toolset which combines and extends the workflow management system YAWL and the process mining framework ProM.     

Building a production planning process with an approach based on CIMOSA and workflow management systems

Nowadays, one of the major challenges for enterprises is to stay competitive in today's changing market environment. This can be supported by business process models which on one hand are consistent and adequate (requirement #1), and on the other hand can be enacted and operated in an easy, fast, straightforward and integrated way (requirement #2). The CIMOSA architecture provides the basis for business process modelling to fulfil both of the above requirements. It supports the creation of consistent process models and allows to identify almost all the information required for the development of a workflow model. These models can be implemented using one of the commercial workflow management systems. In this paper we present the methodology based on the CIMOSA architecture that we have developed to build a workflow model in ©Lotus Notes for the forecasting and production planning processes in a tiles manufacturing enterprise. The CIMOSA approach has also been used to design the necessary software applications for processing the information of the resulting workflow system.