A project to transform our lab in the nation’s midsection celebrated a milestone over the summer.
On August 6, the Lenexa, Kansas laboratory team put the first set of samples on their new, state-of-the-art automation line for clinical testing, marking a milestone in a major automation project at the lab.
For the past two years, the team, in partnership with National Laboratory Operations, transformed the lab while maintaining high-quality customer satisfaction and navigating challenges.
This was the second phase of a larger automation project for the full lab featuring automated Inpeco equipment similar to that used in our Clifton, New Jersey and Marlborough, Massachusetts labs. The Copan microbiology line launched in June 2023.
The automation line will further enhance the customer experience with reduced turnaround times, increased quality, increased capacity, and less blood required, while improving lab flow.
“It is exciting to see us getting so close to the finish line. In the end it will alleviate some of the stress that we have had with having to manually pull reflexes/failed loads,” said Madisyn Thompson, Medical Laboratory Scientist. “It is also cool seeing all the different departments collaborate to ensure things are running properly and helping when needed. I am proud that we are the first to install automation while continuing to run.”
The team will gradually add volume on the line as they identify learnings and continuously improve processes. A second line is anticipated to launch in Q4-2024, at which time 13.3 million patients’ specimens will run on the automated lines. Once the second line is live, the lab will have 30% more capacity, allowing us to build on our purpose and serve more patients. Korbin Hiebert, Automated Line Operator, said, “The automation line has come a long way but has even more potential. I think we are going to be amazed by how much this line will be able to handle, especially once both lines are up.”
Colleen Harding, Automated Line Operator added, “We have an awesome team of automated line operators (ALO) and Siemens customer service engineers (CSE) who work well together. It has been a challenge learning the automation process, but I think we will be great once we are fully live on both lines.”
Melissa Duncan, Senior Director, Laboratory Operations, shared her gratitude to the teams who are making automation happen. “Our success would not have been possible without a lot of hard work and dedication from the project management team: Tasha Thilking, Matt Theiss, Brent Cartwright, Fred Solomon, and Corey Stienbarger, in addition to our entire lab staff, Clifton laboratory personnel, National Testing Operations, HTAS, and database. Thank you to everyone that had a role in getting us to where we are today!”
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