J&R Consulting, Inc. Weblog

Coda Corp USA - J & R Consulting Strategic Alliance Announced

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:05:58 -0500

Companies regulated under Title 21 who require project assistance are often confronted with growing complexity in their projects, needing multi-functional expertise from their service providers.

To offer maximum quality, efficiency, and productivity to our clients, Coda Corp USA and J&R Consulting are pleased to announce the formation of a strategic alliance. This synergistic relationship will allow each company to offer to its existing and potential clients an expanded pool of resources available form both areas of expertise; Title 21 compliant quality systems and enterprising global automation solutions.

Coda’s Executive Offices released the following statement:

"We here at Coda Corp USA are energized by the formation of this strategic relationship. The core beliefs of both companies have always resulted in a perfect union of professionalism, quality and service. We are excited to formally align with J & R Consulting."

J & R’s Executive Offices released the following statement:

"In today's marketplace, the surest path to success is focusing on quality. We are thrilled to work with another company like Coda Corp USA that demonstrates that philosophy."

Upgrade Web Services in Oracle Application Server 10g

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:29:29 -0500

The OracleAS 10g software is, among other things, a robust application container for web services. It has integrated performance monitoring, web service clients, and several other add-ons that make it a pleasure to work with. However, all of this is built on top of a somewhat dated web service technology, Java API for XML-Based RPC (JAX-RPC). This article will describe the settings necessary to configure an OracleAS 10g web service to using the Java API for XML-Based Web Services (JAX-WS) technology.

Implementing B2MML In LIMS

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:27:12 -0500

In the process of implementing an ERP to LIMS interface, one of the challenges to overcome was how to clearly communication between Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) and SQL*LIMS v5. In the past, I had been exposed to several methods of interface communication, text files containing single bits of data, records inserted directly into a database, and concatenated strings transmitted over a network. Each of these methods had at least one serious flaw: if the data structure changed the interface stopped working. This article will review how Business To Manufacturing Markup Language (B2MML) was used to robustly transfer data and instructions between an ERP and LIMS system.

Interfacing SQL*LIMS v5 to a Global ERP

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:59:52 -0500

Most of this year has been spent designing and writing an interface between SQL*LIMS v5.1 and the new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system being implemented by a global pharmaceutical manufacturing company. The goal was threefold: notify LIMS system administrators of changes made to materials, vendors, and manufactures; automatically create and update lots in the LIMS system; and send lot statuses and results from LIMS back to the ERP when testing was complete. This article will review the decision-making process used to plan and develop the interface.

J&R Consulting Certified SQL*LIMS Professional Services Partner

Sun, 10 May 2009 07:42:31 -0500

Applied Biosystems, a division of Life Technologies Corporation, has signed an agreement with J&R Consulting, a leader in laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and quality systems implementation and integration services, to expand Applied Biosystems SQL*LIMS professional services offerings for existing and new customers. These offerings represent best-in-class services for LIMS users in the pharmaceutical and food & beverage industries, as well as other regulated and non-regulated markets.

Applied Biosystems SQL*LIMS Global Professional Services organization is a leader in LIMS solutions, which are designed to increase operational efficiency, simplify deployment and improve integration. J&R Consulting’s team of skilled consultants with decades of experience in the LIMS field complements Applied Biosystems team of LIMS experts, increasing scalability for large projects.

“Our relationship with J&R Consulting enhances our ability to respond more effectively to the rapidly evolving needs of our customers,” said Pat Pijanowski, General Manager of Applied Biosystems Business Unit. “We are now able to expand our professional service capabilities serving the LIMS market, yet with no sacrifice in quality of service.”

Brian Jack, Principal Consultant at J&R Consulting, added, “We believe that a close association with Applied Biosystems will strengthen our ability to provide exceptional services to our customers by ensuring access to state-of-the-art LIMS technology and service. Working with Applied Biosystems will also allow us to address a much larger and more diverse market. Our joint expertise gives customers the best that LIMS has to offer.”

Completing a PDF Form using SQL*LIMS v5

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:44:48 -0500

I am intrigued with the possibilities offered by the Applied Biosystems SQL*LIMS v5 architecture, which relies on the Oracle Application Server software for the on-screen forms and printed reports. Like the article, “XML Reporting in SQL*LIMS”, this article will use the Oracle AS software to implement a report using a PDF forms in SQL*LIMS v5.

Comments in Code

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:37:01 -0500

A trip down memory lane: Years ago, while attending the fine institution known as The Pennsylvania State University, I anxiously awaited a grade on my latest programming assignment. Pardon the pun, but I was trying to avoid another C on my C++ programming project. I had thought that the last program I turned in was completed perfectly, but I got knocked by the professor for not commenting my code. I thought it was nonsense. And then when I got my 2nd consecutive grade of a C –, I thought it was even more nonsensical. Why would I need to comment my code? My thoughts were that the professor was an expert in this field and that he and should know exactly what my code meant. … Now back to the present day.

Soup To Nuts

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:45:03 -0500

I have come to love this saying even though, until recently, the origin was never apparent to me. Regardless of the origin, the idea of taking something from start to finish is a wonderful idea. I have worked on a couple of different projects where I started very close to the beginning and ended my work on the project very close to the end. But why don’t all aspects of the project follow a beginning to end cycle?

I Like Your Mousetrap, Really!

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:58:16 -0500

I’ve reflected on more than one occasion that independent consulting is a strange business. We’re neither vendor nor customer, although obviously, it’s in our best interest to be very friendly with both. It is, therefore, really problematic when an independent consultant gives opinions like “I wish customers acted like this,” or, “I wish vendors built things this way,” since the risk is that no matter what is said, it might be taken as criticism to someone, somewhere. But to state the obvious, this misunderstanding is not in the best interest of the independent consultant! So, let me say to whoever wishes to read it, “I really, really, really like your mousetrap!”

XML Reporting in SQL*LIMS

Sat, 05 May 2007 10:14:06 -0500

For several years my boss, Brian, has been telling me that the perfect solution for a LIMS Certificate of Analysis report would use a solid data extraction algorithm and a flexible XML output. The idea has always sounded interesting to me, except for the fact that the SQL*LIMS product doesn’t include the technology to do such a thing…until now. Today’s article describes how to customize SQL*LIMS and Oracle Reports to send data to XML, and how to convert that XML output to PDF.

Customer Service Is Not a Commodity

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 15:08:12 -0500

I had the chance last week to see opposite ends of the customer service spectrum- both involving restaurants. The message in each experience extends beyond the restaurant business, however.

Data Migration

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:46:16 -0500

As the IT industry matures, companies are starting to realize the benefits of having a standardized approach to IT. This includes the use of common applications within a business sector. These applications can be a new application entirely for the company or an upgrade of one of a number of existing products in place. When a company decides to go down the path of standardization there are a number of things that need to be considered. One of the most important issues that a company needs to consider is the question of what to do with legacy data. Depending on the type of application, legacy data may or may not be required. In the LIMS world, foreseeable situations exist where the answer to the legacy data question is both! The question is then – migrate the data to the new system or warehouse the data? I will explain some of the considerations that should come into play when making this decision.

The 12 Days of Configuration Management

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 10:15:05 -0500

I’m dreaming of an open-source repository
Just like the one’s I used to know. (only better)
May your files be compact and properly tagged
And may all your repositories be free. (as in beer)

Digital Signature

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 12:11:56 -0500

Fraud and identity theft have corporations and individuals alike concerned with electronic data security and authentication. Although this may appear to be a new trend, information integrity concerns have been around for a long long time.

Reader Mail I

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 18:27:29 -0500

It doesn't happen very often, but every once in awhile, I get reader comments to my blogs. I am going to take the time to respond to two comments made in regards to blogs I have written.