Introduction
Sakura Finetek is an international manufacturer of high quality products for the medical profession. Their products can be used in histopathology laboratories. Adding value by innovation through SMART Automation is part of their global vision.

Laboratory automation has consequences for processes and way of working in existing laboratories. An identified profit consists of the introduction of continuous processes in histopathology laboratories. Important products in these continuous processes are the Tissue-Tek Automation Products. Sakura Finetek was looking for a tool that could support them in identifying and quantifying the effect of automation in their customer’s laboratory. The tool should be able to visualize the positive effects and added value of the Tissue-Tek products once introduced in the laboratory.

The use of simulation turned out to be the best solution to make the effects of SMART Automation visible and understandable. INCONTROL has proven to be a company that is capable of building a workflow analysis tool that combines the strength of simulation with an easy to use interface. This resulted in the development of the Sakura SMART Analysis Tool.

SMART Analysis Tool

The objective of the SMART Analysis Tool is that it should support the Sakura local sales offices and distributors in showing the effects of introducing Tissue-Tek Automation products in a laboratory and as such demonstrate it to (potential) customers. Therefore one of the requirements was that the current laboratory situation and the automated situation can be compared in one model. As the tool is used by non simulation experts, the interface should be easy to use.

INCONTROL developed a modeling wizard that guides the user by a step-by-step approach through all relevant modeling steps and parameters. At the end of the wizard the user has built a model that shows the laboratory in current and automated set-up next to each other. Because of the approach that the current and automated set-up can be simulated simultaneously, the tool gives a direct comparison between the two options.

During the simulation run the user can open up the 2D visualization window, to show the workflow in the laboratory. A second window shows the performance of the defined system. A set of parameters and graphs shows a variety of logistic indicators like turnaround times, productivity, utilization of systems and occupancy of laboratory technicians and pathologists.

Giving this insight in the laboratory performance, the SMART Analysis Tool will support the Sakura distributors in quantifying thoughts about the benefits of SMART automation. It will contribute to a higher acceptation level of their customers. At the same time the SMART Analysis Tool will give insight in the workflow and performance of the current laboratory situation. In this way the users and customers will gain a better understanding of the current workflow and get a valuable insight in the influence of SMART Automation in their specific laboratory.For more information about Sakura and SMART Automation go to www.smartautomation.eu.