A computer implemented method for performing a biological process using laboratory automation apparatus comprising one or more unit operations that collectively constitute a biological process that is applied on at least one physical input and produces at least one physical output, the method comprising: (a) defining at least one query comprising a unit operation required to complete the biological process and a proposed context for an intended use of the unit operation, wherein the unit operation comprises a protocol that requires the use of least one part in order to complete the protocol, wherein a part is a physical element utilised within a unit operation selected from a reagent, product, piece of equipment or apparatus that is used in a process of unit operation, and wherein a protocol is a set of instructions for performing a unit operation and wherein the context is defined as situational information associated with a user who is to perform the process that includes the available equipment, starting materials, time and/or cost; (b) providing a database, wherein the database comprises a plurality of rated parts and/or protocols associated with unit operations, wherein each of the plurality of rated parts and/or protocols comprises a multidimensional rating associated with it, wherein the multidimensional rating associated with a rated part or protocol comprises more than one measurable features associated with an instance of use of the part and/or protocol to complete a unit operation including the context of the use of the part and/or protocol, wherein the measurable features are selected from: stated output yield; biomass yield; efficiency of conversion; quality control measurements; and successful completion of control experiments; (c) searching the database with the query in order to identify one or more compatible rated parts and/or protocols associated with relevant unit operations, wherein relevant unit operations have the same purpose as the proposed unit operation, wherein the most compatible rated part and/or protocol is selected on the basis of a user-defined specified cut-off distance between the multidimensional rating of each compatible rated part/protocol and the proposed context for the intended use of the at least one query unit operation, wherein the distance measure is defined using one of: a Euclidean distance, a Manhattan distance, or by averaging over values weighted by a distance measure; and (d) performing the biological process comprising the query unit operation using the most compatible rated part and/or protocol identified for the process. (a) defining at least one query comprising a unit operation required to complete the biological process and a proposed context for an intended use of the unit operation, wherein the unit operation comprises a protocol that requires the use of least one part in order to complete the protocol, wherein a part is a physical element utilised within a unit operation selected from a reagent, product, piece of equipment or apparatus that is used in a process of unit operation, and wherein a protocol is a set of instructions for performing a unit operation and wherein the context is defined as situational information associated with a user who is to perform the process that includes the available equipment, starting materials, time and/or cost; (b) providing a database, wherein the database comprises a plurality of rated parts and/or protocols associated with unit operations, wherein each of the plurality of rated parts and/or protocols comprises a multidimensional rating associated with it, wherein the multidimensional rating associated with a rated part or protocol comprises more than one measurable features associated with an instance of use of the part and/or protocol to complete a unit operation including the context of the use of the part and/or protocol, wherein the measurable features are selected from: stated output yield; biomass yield; efficiency of conversion; quality control measurements; and successful completion of control experiments; (c) searching the database with the query in order to identify one or more compatible rated parts and/or protocols associated with relevant unit operations, wherein relevant unit operations have the same purpose as the proposed unit operation, wherein the most compatible rated part and/or protocol is selected on the basis of a user-defined specified cut-off distance between the multidimensional rating of each compatible rated part/protocol and the proposed context for the intended use of the at least one query unit operation, wherein the distance measure is defined using one of: a Euclidean distance, a Manhattan distance, or by averaging over values weighted by a distance measure; and (d) performing the biological process comprising the query unit operation using the most compatible rated part and/or protocol identified for the process.