Metallurgical and assay laboratories handle large, repetitive workloads where a small inefficiency multiplies across thousands of samples. OnLIMS is built for that reality: it streamlines high-volume batch and routine workflows while keeping the analytical record accurate and traceable.
High-throughput by design
- Batch and routine workflows Manage thousands of samples per batch with minimal administrative overhead.
- Automated instrument capture Native Level 0 integration with 150+ instruments via serial (RS232) plus 25+ via file import — AAS, ICP-OES/MS, XRF, LECO C/S & Hg, balances, titrators and UV-Vis — pulls results straight off the bench with no re-typing.
- Real-time QA/QC OnQC and OnLQC validate accuracy and precision with Shewhart, X-Control, CUSUM and Thompson-Howarth charts, duplicate range/% replication and CRM, blank, duplicate and control checks as the run happens.
- Specialized methods Support for complex assay and geochemical analytical methods, with bias evaluated against certified values and out-of-limit results requiring a justification note.
From raw data to trusted certificate
OnLIMS turns captured data into Certificates of Analysis that can be formatted per client, alongside management reports for statistics, cost centres and turnaround time. Output exports to TXT, CSV, Excel, XML and PDF. And because the platform uses a zero-install model over SQL Server, the same setup scales cleanly across remote sites and virtualized environments.
Smelter and concentrate workflows
Smelters and concentrators run around the clock, and the laboratory has to keep pace. OnLIMS handles 24/7 routine jobs generated from fixed sampling points — feed, concentrate, tailings, matte, slag and shift composites — where each point carries the same identity and the job is distinguished by date and time. There is no manual login ceremony for every shift: the routine job model captures the recurring sampling regime so technicians focus on analysis, not paperwork.
- Fixed-point routine sampling Standing sampling points feed routine jobs whose identity stays constant while date and time separate each shift's results.
- Concentrate-grade results to production Approved concentrate and feed grades flow to production systems and plant historians (PI) via file or ODBC export, so metallurgical accounting works from the same numbers as the lab.
- Real-time QA/QC on every shift Shewhart, X-Control, CUSUM and Thompson-Howarth charts, duplicate replication and CRM, blank and control checks run as results land, with out-of-limit values flagged for a justification note before the run is approved.
- Work-unit cost tracking Routine and batch jobs roll up against cost centres and work units, giving plant and lab management a clear view of analytical cost per shift, point and stream.
Results move through the OnLAB lifecycle — Pending, Ready, Approved, Published — and are locked on publish under a supervisor, with a full field-level audit trail behind every value the plant relies on.
Related: QA/QC for mining labs · Instrument integration
Frequently asked questions
Is OnLIMS suitable for high-volume assay labs?
Yes. It is designed for batch and routine workflows handling thousands of samples per batch with minimal administrative overhead.
Can certificates be customized per client?
Yes. Certificates of Analysis can be formatted per client, and data exports to TXT, CSV, Excel, XML and PDF.
Does it integrate with metallurgical instruments?
Yes. Native Level 0 integration captures data from ICP, AA, LECO, titrators and balances automatically.
How does OnLIMS scale across mine sites?
It uses a zero-install model over Microsoft SQL Server, so the same setup scales across remote, low-bandwidth sites and virtualized environments.