Getting
real value out of IoT it can be viewed as a ‘perfect storm’ in the sense that
it presents “a rare combination of circumstances with the potential to result
in an event of unusual magnitude.” IoT can be defined as physical objects that
are connected to a network to collect data, like a fitness tracker recording
personal activity data.
So
writes Dassault Systèmes BIOVIA in an article for Laboratory Network. Here is
an extract:
“In
the context of the laboratory, the direct interfacing of objects removes the
need for manual data entry or transcription, which safeguards the integrity of
the collected data, as well as aiding compliance with standards and regulations
like 21 CFR Part 11. Efficiency is boosted through the removal of
non-value-adding activity, while more data (and more complete data) of higher
quality is collected, being attributable (who created a record and when),
legible, contemporaneous, original and accurate.
In
addition to providing a greater volume of complete data, the IoT gives an
overview of processes and activity. Once analytics are applied, insight can be
gained into trends or the effect of implemented changes, enabling organizations
to act in a pre-emptive manner. When an organization has disconnected
standalone equipment, however, it becomes difficult to obtain such an overview,
especially when devices may be spread in various locations around the world.
Questions can then arise as to whether each device is correctly calibrated, its
maintenance status, where this information is documented, and how the data can
be linked to that of the samples being tested in order to provide evidence that
the instrument was in perfect working order during the time of measurement.
From
a cost perspective, having detailed information regarding the location of
equipment and how it is being used may reveal that instruments could be
relocated, or used in a more efficient way rather than an organization needing
to incur the cost of purchasing additional equipment. However, there are two
key difficulties in leveraging this data; the first being that the
documentation often remains in the form of paper records or Excel spreadsheets;
and the second is the equipment being disconnected, making the access to data
difficult.”
Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle