Workplace
Content
4.1Apparatus
4.1.1Create apparatus
4.1.2Modify and delete apparatus
4.2Calibration
4.3Infrared(NIR)
4.3.1Group for calibration
4.3.2NIR calibration
4.3.3Bias values
4.3.4Correction factors
4.4Enter results
4.4.1Enter results by series
The workplace is the lab management part of Libra QC. This will help you to organize and plan the work in the lab, and to enter results manually of via automatic apparatus connections.
4.1Apparatus
The configuration of an apparatus helps you to automate the entry of results in Libra QC. Depending on the type of the equipment, Libra QC can exchange data automatically, or, results can be entered manually.
4.1.1Create apparatus
Menu: Workplace → Apparatus → create
Here, you define the equipment you have in your lab. This can be a balance, NIR, ..
To define an aparatus:
- Assign a unique number.
- Name of the apparatus.
- The type of electronic connection: the list of available options depends on the modules you purchased. A manual connection is available: this can be used in case of problems with an automatic connection, or if an automatic connection for your equipment is not yet available.
- The lab where the apparatus is installed.
- A list of criteria the apparatus can measure
- Measure after creating sample: if this option is checked, Libra QC will launch a screen to read the results of the created sample, if the sample contains results of one of the criteria that can be measured.
- Measure after modifying sample: same as previous, but after modifying a sample.
In case of a serial RS232 connection, the communication settings can be entered:
- Serial port: com port used for this apparatus
Examle: COM1
- Port configuration: baudrate, parity, data bits, stop bit, flow control
Example: 9600,N,8,1,0
- Calibration, criterion: the criterion used to calibrate the equipment. This is not required.
- Calibration, product: product used to calibrate the equipment.
- Calibration, number of analyses: number of analyses used during calibration.
4.1.2Modify and delete apparatus
Menu: Workplace → Apparatus → modify/delete
All properties of an apparatus can be modified, except the number. An apparatus can be deleted if it has not been used in a series or to analyze a criterion of a sample.
4.2Calibration
Menu: Workplace → Calibration
The calibration tool is used to verify on regular basis if the equipment is still performing correctly. A daily or weekly calibration can be followed up by Libra QC to track the average and the standard deviation and to compare them with the norm.
The preferred way to work is to create a raw material specific for calibration. On this raw material, a set of internal quality norms can be configured: the average calibration result must be between this internal quality norms. The external quality norms define the allowed deviation for the standard deviation.
4.3Infrared(NIR)
This module is available if the required Libra QC module has been purchased.
4.3.1Group for calibration
Menu: Workplace → Infrared → Group for calibration →modify / create / copy / delete.
A group for calibration is an NIR calibration set for a raw material. With minor changes, this set can be used for other raw materials. You could, as an example, use the calibration set of barley for oat and only change the bias values.
A group for calibration is identified by a number. A name and description can be assigned. After creation, the group for calibration can be modified, deleted or copied on a new group.
After creatin a group for calibration, you can enter the filter values for this product.
4.3.2NIR calibration
Menu: Workplace → Infrared → Calibration →Modify/copy.
De calibration values (filter values) for the infrared apparatus can be configured in this screen.The list of criteria is limited to the list you attached to the apparatus (menu Workplace → Apparatus → Modify)
It is allowed to skip certain criteria if these criteria are not used on this product.
When a calibration group and an apparatus is chosen, a list of 21 values can be entered per critirion.
These values can be copied to other calibration groups using the copy function: Menu: Workplace → Infrared → Calibration →Copy.
4.3.3Biasvalues
Menu: Workplace → infrared → bias values.
In this screen, you can modify the F0 values of the criteria of your NIR apparatus.
After selecting a calibration number and a NIR apparatus, you get 1 line per apparatus where you can change the bias values.
4.3.4Correction factors
Menu: Workplace → infrared → correction factors.
It is possible to configure a correction factor for individual products and criteria. When you choose to use the same calibration set for oat and wheat, they will be measured with the same F0-F20 values. Using the correction factors, you can apply a correction on the F0 value for one of these 2 products. This avoids creating a new calibration group.
When the F0 for oat is -2 and you need an F0 for wheat of 3, you can achieve this by using a correction factor of 5 (-2 +5 = 3)
4.4Enter results
Results can be entered manually or read from an apparatus.
The manual entry of results is done sample by sample via the menu “Sample → modify sample”of via “Workplace → Enter results by series”.
Reading results from an apparatus can be done using “Workplace → Enter results by series” or via “Enter results by sample”.
Entering the results of a series is done via “Workplace → Enter results by series”, for manual or automatic entry.
4.4.1Enter results by series
Menu: Workplace → Enter results by series.
First, you get a selection screen to specify::
- Series: When the laboratory work is organised using series, you can select a series. The list of criteria is limited to the criteria of the series.
When you dont work using series, this field can be left empty.
- Lab: Choose the lab you want to enter result for. This can be an internal or external lab. LibraQC will propose the last entered value.
- Apparatus number: select the apparatus you want to use for the analysis. For manual entry, this field is not required.
- Also analyzed analyses: when this option is selected, also the analyzed and validated results are shown. When a result is validated, it cannot be modified.
- Criterion order: this option lets you control the order of the columns in the series screen. You can sort the criteria based on the code, sequence code or name.
- Criteria/methods: this list of criteria and methods is limited to the criteria and methods of the selected series, or when no series is selected, to the criteria of apparatus. Only criteria and methods having a least 1 sample in progress are shown. When no criteria are selected, you will be able to enter results for all critera.
- Analyses: This list contains all requested analyses of the selected series, lab, apparatus and criteria/method, keeping in mind the selection ‘also analyzed analyses’. You can make a selection of these analyses if you do not want to show them all.
When you confirm this data selection screen, you get the data entry screen with the selected analyses:
In the right hand part of the screen, you get a grid with 1 column per criterion/method and at least 1 row for each sample.
Types of field in the right pane:
- White fields: these are fields where you can enter results. If a result is entered, the value is displayed in the field and can still be modified as long as the result is not validated.
- Gray fields with a value: these are validated results. They can no longer be modified.
- Dark gray fields without value:these are analyses that are not requested in this sample. You can not enter a result in these fields.
- Light gray fields without a value:these fields are calculated results, based on other measured criteria. You cannot enter a result manually in these fields.
A recipient code can be entered in the ‘Recipient’ column. This can be done manually for each sample, or, you can enter a number in the first row, copy the value (CTRL-C), select the other recipient cells and paste the value (CTRL-V). Each row will have a recipient code incremented by one, compared to the previous row.