Introduction	Top

Different Formulation iterations are grouped together within a Formulation Project for evaluation. Ingredient, equipment, and processing costs are considered, and totals are calculated real time, as values are changed.

For each Project define:

Both the Formulation Template and new Formulations define:

Define the Formulation Project	Top

This section describes how to define a simple Formulation Project within LabVantage. Later sections describe in detail how to manage and evaluate a Project.

To begin, navigate to LIMS → Formulations → Formulation Projects. The Formulation list page opens.

From the List page you can "Add" a new Project or "Edit" existing Projects.

To add a new Project click "Add", the Create New Formulation Project dialog opens. You have several options from which you can create the Project.

Enter a Project Id and decide how to create the new Project. Click "OK". The Edit Formulation Project page opens. Depending on how you chose to define the Project you may or may not see previously defined Formulation Templates and Formulations. In our example we will define a Project from scratch.

Define general information about how the project will be managed and the objective.

Using the Objective detail define the Formulation Project.

The History detail tab lists Project Start and End dates and if Cancelled, the date on which the Project was Cancelled.

Project Navigation

As you get further into project definition, the LV Navigator helps you view all Levels of the Project and easily switch between Formulations. Add and manage individual Formulations, viewing each within the context of the others.

As you select a Level, details of that level display in the right pane.

At each Level you can perform different operations. As you begin to define and manage a Project you will find you need to move between Formulations and make changes.

Clicking the dropdown arrow to the right of the level opens the operation menus. The following diagram shows all possible levels and the operations available at each. See Add New Formulations for detailed information about each of these operations.

Create the Formulation Template	Top

After defining general information about the Project you will create the Formulation Template. A Template is essentially the initial Formulation. As new Formulations are added they are based on this Template. Details defined in the Template default to new Formulations eliminating the need to define these details each time a Formulation is added. Click the Formulation Template Level to display the Formulation detail tabs.

Using the detail tabs define the Formulation.

In the Formulation tab provide a brief description and a Label to identify the Formulation. The Template Label field determines how individual formulations are automatically labeled when added. The format for auto-labeling is to use the "Template Label X", where X is an auto-incremented number (starting with 1) over the last Formulation defined.

Define any Additional Overhead Costs associated with this Formulation Project. These costs are used in Formulation Calculations.

This detail lets you provide text to describe the Formulation.

"Save" the Objective when finished.

This detail defines the Batches you intend to create for this Formulation. Once the Formulations have been designed and reviewed a Batch can be created, as well as any associated Samples. Here you can define the Batches to be created and the Samples needed.

Depending on whether or not you choose to include Stages when initially defining the Project, the Stages tab displays. Stages allow you to vary the processes used when creating the different Formulations. For example, in the first Formulation you might mix the first five ingredients, then cure, then do something else. In the second Formulation you might mix all ingredients in the first stage, then cure and be finished. Defining Stages lets you modify these processing stages on a Formulation by Formulation basis.

When Stages are defined, Tests and Specifications are defined at the Stage Level, not for the Formulation as a whole. Defining Stages also provides the opportunity to indicate which Ingredients and/or which equipment is used during which Stage.

Editing a Stage

Selecting a Stage and clicking "Edit" opens the Stage maintenance page where you can add Tests and make any necessary changes. See Add a Stage to a Formulation for more information.

Stage Calculations

Stage Calculations allow you to calculate additional costs for a each Stage, based on the Mixing Batch size. Considering entered values (such as Efficiency per hour, hours, and cost per hour) a more accurate Stage Cost can be calculated. See Formulation Methods, Stage Calculations, for details.

Stages in the Navigator

Included Stages display in the Navigator when a Batch is created.

Define the Ingredients of the Formulation. Ingredients are Products defined within LabVantage. Clicking the "Add" button opens the Select Product dialog, choose the Product you want to include as an Ingredient. Add as many Ingredients as necessary.

At any point while defining a Formulation Project you can add Ingredients to the list. Removal of Ingredients is only allowed when the Ingredient has a zero quantity in all Formulations, or when none of the Formulations have been released for Batching. There is no limit to the number of Ingredients that can be added.

Choose any Equipment needed for the Formulation.

The Testing detail is available when Stages are not included (Support Individual Stages not checked). Tests are either defined here, when Stages are not included, or at the Stage level. In both cases, the Tests can be defined at the Formulation Template Level, or within Stages defined in the Formulation Template.

Define the Tests to perform on Batch Samples taken for this Formulation. The Testing tab lets you "Add" and "Remove" Tests and provides a simplified Specification implementation. See Products Tests and Specifications Simple Mode for more detailed information about defining Tests.

The Specifications tab is available when Stages are not included. See Specifications for more information about defining Specifications.

Specifications are either defined here, when Stages are not included, or at the Stage level. In both cases, the Specification can be defined at the Formulation Template Level, or within Stages defined in the Formulation Template. The Specifications are then copied down to the Formulations (or the stages of the Formulations) when a new formulation is added.

Clicking "Add" opens the Select Specification Dialog. Select the Specification you want to include.

Option	Description
View Results	Once Specification Results are entered for associated Samples you can view the Results by clicking the View Results icon.
Specification Version	The selected Specification. Version of the Specification.
Description	A description of the Specification.

Add an Attachment to the Formulation.

Add New Formulations	Top

Once you have defined the Template you can begin to add New Formulations to evaluate costs and efficiency. Make changes to the Formulation as needed, create new Formulations, compare each and evaluate the effects of the changes.

When adding a new Formulation you are making a copy (new iteration) of the Template. With the Project highlighted click the drop down menu icon and click "Add New Formulation".

Choose a Formulation Type (defined as Reference Types). Enter the Label you want to appear with the new Formulation in the Navigator. The default is to use the Template Label and a number, automatically incremented as new Formulations are added. However, you can change the Label to meet your needs. "Save" the new Formulation. The new Formulation displays in the Navigator, the details inherited from the Template display in the right panel.

Make the necessary changes. Using the Formulation Level Dropdown Menu, choose to perform any of the following to manage the new Formulation.

Select the Formulation to which you want to add a Stage, open the dropdown menu and click "Add Stage".

Define the Stage you want to Add.

"Save" the Stage. The detail tabs display.

Testing (Stage)

The Testing tab lets you "Add" and "Remove" Tests (this Stage only) and provides a simplified Specification implementation. See Products Tests and Specifications Simple Mode for more detailed information about defining Tests.

Specifications

Add (this Stage only) Specifications to the Stage. Clicking "Add" opens the Select Specification Dialog. Select the Specification you want to include.

Option	Description
View Results	Once Specification Results are entered for associated Samples you can view the Results by clicking the View Results icon.
Specification Version	The selected Specification. Version of the Specification.
Description	A description of the Specification.

Attributes

Attributes are used for defining specific processing values. For example, if you have a mixing stage, an attribute can define a nominal duration or speed of the mixer. Later during batch creation you are able to specify the actual attribute value.

See Adding Linked Attributes for more information.

Stage Calculations

Stage Calculations allow you to calculate additional costs for a each Stage, based on the Mixing Batch size. Considering entered values (such as Efficiency per hour, hours, and cost per hour) a more accurate Stage Cost can be calculated. See Formulation Methods, Stage Calculations, for details.

Save the Stage

"Save" the Stage. Upon Saving, the new Stages are added to the Stage Tab.

The Formulation Grid is where you define Formulation Quantities or Proportions (as determined by the Formulation Method) for the associated Ingredients. When Managing and Evaluating a Formulation, the Data Entry page opens the data set created when the Formulation is added. The fields of the data set are determined by the Parameters included within the Parameter List(s) associated with the Formulation Method.

Initially only the Parts or Quantities fields are displayed. The Show dropdown is a data entry feature that allows configurable filters which filter on any row or column. Applied here, in the Manage Formulation data entry page, it is used to choose the different parameters to display in the grid.

In this example we included the IngredientParts and Ingredient Cost Parameter Lists which include the following Parameters:

When evaluating Formulations, two types of Calculations are used:

Values entered in the Parts field are used by the Ingredient calculations. The Fraction and Percentage values are calculated based on the Part values entered.

The Upper and Lower Limit values are entered here, then referenced when a Batch is created. These tolerances ensure that only acceptable quantity /part variations are allowed when adding Ingredients to a Batch. When Actual quantities are entered outside these limits a warning message displays. See Create a Formulation Batch for more information.

The FormulationTotalParts and FormulationTotalCost Parameter Lists provide the Aggregate Calculations that determine the Total and Savings values. See Formulation Methods for detailed information about defining these Parameter Lists and Calculations.

When managing the Formulation Grid, using the Show dropdown you can choose to show:

Data Entry is updated real time as you make changes to the quantities or proportions (Parts). The Formulation Grid is an Enhanced Data Entry page, see Data Entry for more information about the functionality of the Data Entry page.

For a detailed description of how the Calculations are defined see Formulation Calculations.

Comparing Formulations

When you have defined several Formulations you may want to view and compare them all at once. From the Project Level open the operation menu and click "Manage Proportions". All Formulations within the Project display in the Formulation Grid. Optionally select multiple formulations in the Navigator to open them side by side in the Formulation Grid.

Data Entry Menu Options

As you manage the Calculations you have the opportunity to view a report of the Calculations performed. Move your cursor over the "Data Entry" button then click "Calculation Report".

The Calculation Report displays details about the Calculation and the result.

Formulation Menu Options

The Formulation options include "Cancel Formulation" and "Mark Formulation as Base".

When necessary you can choose to copy existing formulations, creating either a sibling, or a new child formulation. With the Formulation you want to copy selected, open the dropdown menu and click "Copy" to create a sibling or "Copy to Child" to create a Child.

The Label will default to the next consecutive number for Siblings (as if you were adding a new Formulation), and to a sub level for a Child.

Once created, Children and Siblings display in the Navigator.

Child formulations may themselves have their own child formulations. Batches and Samples are not copied.

Once you are satisfied with a Formulation and are ready to create a Batch for testing, you will need to Finish the Draft. With the Formulation selected, open the dropdown Menu and click "Finish Draft".

Confirm by clicking the "Finish Draft" button. The Formulation changes from "Draft" to "Pending".

While the Formulation is Pending you can still make changes. You now have the option to "Create a Batch" for the Formulation which may create BatchStages and Samples for evaluation. See Formulation Batches for more information.

Cancel a formulation is used when the formulation is faulty from the outset. Cancelled Formulations are automatically hidden in the Manage Formulation data entry page.

Choose to Cancel a Formulation in either the Formulation Grid or from the Navigator. Canceling a Formulation changes the Status to "Cancelled". Once Cancelled the "Un Cancel" operation becomes available in the dropdown menu of the Navigator. Un Canceling returns the status to its previous state.

You can Cancel any Formulation with a Status of Draft or Pending. While a Formulation has a status of Cancelled you can no longer view it in the Formulation Grid. Any batches and Samples associated with the formulation are also cancelled.

Review a Formulation	Top

When a Formulation is "Complete" you can Review results and choose to Accept or Reject the Formulation.

From the Formulation level of the Navigator, with the Formulation selected, open the dropdown menu and click "Review". This opens a read only Data Entry page showing all Samples for all Batches for the current Formulation. You can also choose to view Sample data across multiple Formulations.

Upon reviewing the data in the Review Formulation page, depending on whether or not the data matches the target specifications, and the goals of the formulation, you can either Accept or Reject the Formulation.

Click "Accept Formulation" to accept the Formulation changing the status to "Accepted", or "Reject Formulation" to reject the Formulation.

Once a Formulation is reviewed you still have the option to "Create Batch", adding a new Batch to the Formulation. You can also "Copy" or "Copy to Child" to create a new Sibling or Child Formulation.

Promote the Formulation	Top

Once a Formulation is Complete and Accepted optionally choose to Promote the Formulation to a Product. See Promote Formulations for more information.