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Multivariate QC-charting  
A new tool for turning data into information

Labtium Oy, which offers laboratory services to customers engaged primarily in geological and mining applications, has used Software Point LIMS since the 1990s. Their daily routines, when analyzing large sample batches with multi-element methods, require time-consuming manual browsing and checking of dozens of QC-charts (quality control). When IT manager Christian Backman requested a multivariate solution, enabling them to discover outliers from just one chart, Software Point took on the challenge and initiated a project for developing a solution.

Software Point is now proud to introduce a new module called StatPoint with multivariate quality charting (QC), integrated with LIMS. StatPoint offers a solution to the demand initially presented by Labtium but recognized  by many other customers. As far as we know, this is the first time multivariate statistical methods have been applied to and integrated with a LIMS.

Christian Backman and his colleague, chemist Marjo Laurén have followed the development and say that the software looks very promising compared to traditional QC-charting in connection with e.g. spectographic devices, typically producing one chart for each variable/element. Multivariate monitoring with StatPoint presents the whole situation in one chart, where the user can quickly observe if the measurement is valid and see how different variables influence the overall monitoring score. Furthermore, it may show such shifts which cannot be seen from the individual charts.

“We are very happy when customers come to us with their wishes and innovative suggestions”, says Software Point’s sales manager Leena Aunela-Tapola. “This solution was developed quickly when we realized that there was a need shared by many laboratories”.

More information:
Leena Aunela-Tapola
+358 9 4391 320

Antti Kauhanen’s Master’s Theses
Antti Kauhanen, software developer at Software Point, wrote his Master’s Thesis this year about the development of StatPoint. He received his diploma engineer degree from the laboratory of Process Control and Automation at the Aalto University.  His professor and superviser Sirkka-Liisa Jämsä-Jounela was very interested in the application and there are plans to continue the cooperation between Software Point and professor Jämsä-Jounela. 
 

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