The time they saved allowed the lab to perform more customer tests without hiring additional personnel. A small midwestern plant bought PIMS the same time they started using Petrifilm plates. PIMS helped organize their data allowing the plant to track trends in seasonality that were not recognized previously. Digitizing and organizing their data with PIMS allowed the QA department to provide better analysis, traceability and accuracy in reporting. Back to the top Labs using Excel for data recording PIMS helped one lab that was using spreadsheets to reach a new level of data management.
Spreadsheets provide links between rigid pre-determined sets of data.
The relational database allowed this lab to query multiple tables, which simplified the creation of customized reports. Plates Labs plating large volumes of Petrifilm AC plates per week realize significant time savings in interpretation, enumeration and recording counts. One large reference lab inoculates hundreds of Petrifilm plates a day. The addition of PIMS has greatly increased technician efficiency in plate counting while reducing counting fatigue. Overall, PIMS has increased technician job satisfaction while also improving lab productivity.