Analysis method, management system, and management apparatus

Abstract

To provide a technology capable of continuously securing personnel having analysis skills related to an analysis apparatus without causing delays in research and enabling appropriate analysis of a sample by an analyst having the analysis skills.SOLUTION: A method for analyzing a sample by using a specific analysis apparatus 60A owned by a specific organization includes: the step in which a first instructor having analysis skills relating to an analysis apparatus 60 of the same type as the specific analysis apparatus 60A issues a first instruction for analysis of the sample for a subject by using a first analysis apparatus 60B, which is an analysis apparatus 60 of the same type owned by another organization different from the specific organization; and the step in which the subject who has received the first instruction performs analysis of the sample by using the specific analysis apparatus 60A at the specific organization.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an analytical method, a management system, and a management device, and in particular to a method of analyzing a sample using a specific analytical device owned by a specific institution, and a management system and management device that manage subjects who analyze samples using the analytical device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, analysts at specific institutions such as research institutes analyze samples using specific analytical devices owned by the specific institutions. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that analysts analyze blood using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or a mass spectrometer (MS) to detect terpenes in the blood. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-173625 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, the operation of an analytical device such as an HPLC or MS is complicated. Therefore, only analysts with the skills to analyze samples using an analytical device (hereinafter also referred to as "analytical skills") can properly analyze samples using the analytical device. Therefore, in order to continuously secure personnel with analytical skills related to analytical devices, research institutions and the like have begun to have instructors selected from among researchers affiliated with the research institution instruct subjects who are to be trained in analysis using the analytical devices owned by the research institution.

[0005] However, with the above-mentioned method, training is provided using analytical equipment owned by the research institution, which means that researchers cannot use the analytical equipment for their original research, which may result in delays to the research. Furthermore, research institutions that need to analyze samples but do not have personnel with the analytical skills for those samples may be forced to abandon the purchase of analytical equipment and instead outsource the analysis to a contract analysis company within the limited time and research budget, which may result in delays to the research.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and its purpose is to provide a technology that enables a continuous supply of personnel with analytical skills related to analytical devices without causing delays in research, and enables samples to be analyzed appropriately by analysts with analytical skills. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An analytical method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a method for analyzing a sample carried out in a specific institution, and includes the steps of: a first instructor having analytical skills related to a specific type of analytical device providing first instruction to a subject on sample analysis using the first analytical device, which is a specific type of analytical device owned by an institution different from the specific institution; and the subject, having received the first instruction, performing an analysis of the sample using the specific type of analytical device owned by the specific institution.

[0008] A management system according to another aspect of the present disclosure is a management system for managing subjects who analyze samples using a specific type of analytical device at a specific institution. The management system includes a management device that manages the subjects and a terminal communicatively connected to the management device. After an instructor with analytical skills related to the specific type of analytical device provides sample analysis instruction to the subject using the specific type of analytical device owned by an institution other than the specific institution, the terminal outputs subject information about the subject and analytical skill information indicating the analytical skills possessed by the trained subject to the management device. The management device stores the subject information and analytical skill information acquired from the terminal in association with each other, and outputs at least one of the subject information and analytical skill information in response to an external request.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a management device manages subjects who analyze samples using a specific type of analytical device at a specific institution. The management device includes a storage device and a computing device that executes processing for managing the subjects. After an instructor with analytical skills related to the specific type of analytical device provides sample analysis instruction to the subject using the specific type of analytical device owned by an institution other than the specific institution, the computing device acquires subject information about the subject and analytical skill information indicating the analytical skills possessed by the trained subject, associates the acquired subject information with the analytical skill information and stores it in the storage device, and outputs at least one of the subject information and the analytical skill information in response to an external request. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, an instructor with analytical skills related to a specific type of analytical device owned by a specific institution provides training to subjects on sample analysis using a specific type of analytical device owned by another institution different from the specific institution, so that the specific type of analytical device owned by the specific institution can be used for the original research, thereby avoiding delays in the research. This makes it possible to continuously secure personnel with analytical skills related to a specific type of analytical device without causing delays in the research, and to enable samples to be analyzed appropriately by analysts with analytical skills. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an application example of a management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a further application example of the management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a management device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 3 is a diagram for explaining a training information database included in the management device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5] 3 is a diagram for explaining a training information database included in the management device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a diagram for explaining a training information database included in the management device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a diagram for explaining updating of a training information database by the management device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 3 is a flowchart of main processing executed by the management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a main configuration of a management system according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will not be repeated in principle.

[0013] <First Embodiment> An analysis method, a management system 1, and a management device 10 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0014] [Examples of management system applications] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an application example of a management system 1 according to embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 1, in embodiment 1, there are a research institution, a manufacturing institution, and a designated institution.

[0015] A research institution is one embodiment of a "specific institution." A research institution is an institution where analysis of samples is performed using a specific type of analytical device 60A, and includes, for example, a corporate research and development department or a university laboratory. A manufacturing institution includes an analytical device 60A owned or exclusively used by a research institution, an analytical device 60B of a specific type owned or exclusively used by a designated institution, and a manufacturer that manufactures the same specific type of analytical device 60 as these analytical devices 60A and 60B. A designated institution is one embodiment of an "other institution." A designated institution includes an analytical institution designated by a manufacturing institution and commissioned by the manufacturing institution to analyze samples using analytical device 60B.

[0016] The analytical device 60B owned by the designated institution is one embodiment of a "first analytical device." The analytical device 60B does not necessarily have to be owned or exclusively owned by the designated institution; it may be owned or exclusively owned by the manufacturing institution, or the designated institution may borrow the analytical device 60B from the manufacturing institution. In the following, analytical device 60A, analytical device 60B, analytical device 60C shown in FIG. 2 (described later), and analytical devices 60 of the same specific type as analytical devices 60A to 60C are collectively referred to as "analytical device 60." The analytical device 60 may be any device capable of analyzing a sample, such as an HPLC or MS.

[0017] Because the operation of analytical device 60 is complicated, samples cannot be analyzed properly using analytical device 60A at research institutions unless the research institution is staffed by analysts with the analytical skills to analyze samples using analytical device 60. Here, in order to continuously secure personnel at research institutions who have the analytical skills to use analytical device 60, it is possible for instructors selected from among researchers affiliated with the research institution to instruct subjects who are to be trained in analysis using analytical device 60A owned by the research institution.

[0018] However, with the above-described method, because instruction is provided using the analytical device 60A owned by the research institution, researchers are unable to use the analytical device 60A for their original research, which may result in research delays. Furthermore, for researchers appointed as instructors, instruction takes away time that could be spent on research, which may result in research delays. Furthermore, research institutions that require sample analysis using a specific type of analytical device 60 but lack personnel with the analytical skills for that sample may be forced to abandon purchasing the analytical device 60 and instead outsource the analysis to a contract analysis company within the limited time and research budget, which may result in research delays.

[0019] Therefore, the management system 1 according to the first embodiment is configured to continuously secure personnel with analytical skills related to a specific type of analytical device 60 without causing delays in research, and to enable samples to be analyzed appropriately by analysts with the analytical skills.

[0020] Specifically, the management system 1 includes a management device 10, a research terminal 20, a designated terminal 30, and a manufacturing terminal 40.

[0021] Management device 10 is operated and managed by the manufacturing institution, and manages personal information of subjects who will analyze samples using analytical device 60A owned by the research institution. Management device 10 is capable of exchanging information with each of research terminals 20, designated terminals 30, and manufacturing terminals 40 via wired or wireless communication. Management device 10 may be a server device outside the manufacturing institution configured as a cloud computer, or may be a server device within the manufacturing institution.

[0022] Research terminal 20 is a computer installed in a research institution and communicatively connected to management device 10. Research terminal 20 is configured as a desktop, laptop, or tablet PC (Personal Computer), or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. Research terminal 20 may be a terminal for processing analyses using analysis device 60A, or it may be a dedicated terminal for communicating with management device 10 without being used for analyses using analysis device 60A.

[0023] The designated terminal 30 is a computer provided in the designated institution and communicatively connected to the management device 10. The designated terminal 30 is configured as a desktop, laptop, or tablet PC, or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. The designated terminal 30 may be a terminal for processing analysis using the analysis device 60B, or may be a dedicated terminal for communicating with the management device 10 without being used for analysis using the analysis device 60B.

[0024] The manufacturing terminal 40 is a computer provided in the manufacturing facility and communicatively connected to the management device 10. The manufacturing terminal 40 is configured as a desktop, laptop, or tablet PC, or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

[0025] In the first embodiment in which the management system 1 configured as described above is applied, first, in order to continuously secure personnel capable of analyzing samples using a specific type of analytical device 60A at a research institution, a training subject is dispatched from the research institution to a designated institution (S1). The subjects dispatched to the designated institution include individuals affiliated with the research institution (e.g., new employees at a company or university students). The training subject is dispatched to the designated institution to undergo training to acquire analytical skills related to the analytical device 60. Note that the research institution is not limited to having the analytical device 60A before the subjects are trained in analytical skills at the designated institution. For example, the research institution may not have the analytical device 60A when the subjects are trained in analytical skills at the designated institution, and may purchase or rent the analytical device 60A before the subjects, who have acquired analytical skills through the training, return to the research institution and begin performing analyses using the analytical device 60A.

[0026] Next, an analytical device 60B of the same specific type as analytical device 60A is prepared at the designated institution (S2). For example, a person in charge at the designated institution selects an analytical device 60 of the specific type to be used for training the subject from among a plurality of types of analytical devices, and also selects a specific analytical device 60B to be used for training from among the plurality of analytical devices 60 of the selected specific type.

[0027] Next, at the designated institution, an instructor capable of analyzing samples using the analytical device 60B is prepared (S3). For example, a person in charge at the designated institution selects at least one instructor from among multiple instructors to instruct the subject. Note that the instructor in this case is one embodiment of a "first instructor," and the instruction by the instructor is one embodiment of "first instruction." The first instructor is a person who does not belong to the research institution. In other words, the first instructor may be a person who belongs to the designated institution, or a person who belongs to the manufacturing institution and is dispatched from the manufacturing institution to the designated institution.

[0028] Next, at the designated institution, the instructor uses the analytical device 60B owned by the designated institution to provide training to the subject on sample analysis (S4).

[0029] Next, at the designated institution, the instructor certifies the analytical skills of the trainee who has received the training (S5). For example, the instructor selects at least one analytical skill level from a plurality of levels (hereinafter also referred to as "analysis skill levels") for the analytical skills of the trainee whom he / she has trained, and registers information indicating the selected at least one analytical skill level in the designated terminal 30. More specifically, the instructor inputs information indicating the at least one analytical skill level imparted to the trainee into the designated terminal 30 as analytical skill information indicating the trainee's analytical skill, and stores the analytical skill information in the designated terminal 30. Note that the analytical skill possessed by the trainee in this case is one embodiment of a "first analytical skill."

[0030] Furthermore, the instructor inputs into the designated terminal 30, in association with subject information including personal information of the subject who received the instruction, the above-mentioned analytical skill information of the subject, instructor information including personal information of the instructor, and analytical device information including information indicating the analytical device 60B used when providing the instruction (for example, the type of analytical device 60B, the model number of the analytical device 60B, or the serial number of the analytical device 60B), and stores this subject information, analytical skill information, instructor information, and analytical device information together as training information in the designated terminal 30 (S6).

[0031] The trainer communicates with the management device 10 using the designated terminal 30, and outputs training information from the designated terminal 30 to the management device 10 (S7).

[0032] The management device 10 acquires the training information of the subject from the designated terminal 30 and stores the acquired training information in a training information database 132 of the storage device 13, which will be described later (S8). This allows the management device 10 to manage subject information about the subject who has undergone training under the guidance of the instructor, in association with analytical skill information, instructor information, and analysis device information.

[0033] Meanwhile, at the research institution, a person in charge communicates with management device 10 using research terminal 20 and outputs a viewing request to management device 10 to view the training status of the subject dispatched to the designated institution (S9). The person in charge may be, for example, the supervisor of the subject who is a new employee at a company, or the teacher of the subject who is a university student. The viewing request also includes personal information about the subject who has been dispatched to the designated institution.

[0034] In response to the viewing request from the research terminal 20, the management device 10 identifies the subject based on personal information and other information included in the viewing request, and outputs training information including the subject information and analytical skill information of the identified subject to the research terminal 20 (S10). This allows the research institution's personnel to confirm the training status (e.g., analytical skill level) of the dispatched subject by viewing the training information acquired from the management device 10. Note that if multiple subjects are dispatched to a designated institution for training, the research institution's personnel may use the research terminal 20 to communicate with the management device 10 to search for subjects with a desired analytical skill level, and output analytical skill information indicating the desired analytical skill level to the management device 10 as a viewing request. In response to this, the management device 10 may extract, based on the acquired analytical skill information, subject information of subjects with the analytical skill level indicated in the analytical skill information from the training information database 132, and output the extracted information to the research terminal 20. In this way, the research institution's personnel can identify subjects with a desired analytical skill level. In this way, the management device 10 may output at least one of the subject information and the analytical skill information in response to a viewing request from the research terminal 20.

[0035] After the training of the subjects dispatched to the designated institution is completed, the subjects who have acquired analytical skills for a specific type of analytical device 60 perform analysis of samples using the specific type of analytical device 60A at the research institution (S11).

[0036] As described above, according to the analysis method and management system 1 of the first embodiment, an instructor with analytical skills related to the same specific type of analytical device 60 as the analytical device 60A owned by the research institution can provide guidance on sample analysis to subjects using another specific type of analytical device 60B owned by a designated institution other than the research institution. This allows the analytical device 60A owned by the research institution to be used for the original research, thereby avoiding research delays. Furthermore, because the instructor providing guidance to the subjects is not affiliated with the research institution, research delays due to researchers' time being taken up by guidance can be avoided. This allows for the continued availability of personnel with analytical skills related to the specific type of analytical device 60 without causing research delays, enabling analysts with analytical skills to appropriately analyze samples. Furthermore, research institutions that have given up on purchasing a specific type of analytical device 60 due to a lack of personnel with analytical skills can be encouraged to purchase the specific type of analytical device 60 by continuing to secure personnel with analytical skills. This can promote the purchase of analytical devices 60 at such research institutions.

[0037] Next, an application example of the management system 1 in the case where the subject who was the training target in the example of Fig. 1 continues to train will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing another application example of the management system according to the first embodiment.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 2, the subject who was the subject of training in the example of Fig. 1 is again dispatched from the research institution to the designated institution (S21). The subject who was the subject of training is again dispatched to the designated institution to undergo training to further improve the level of analytical skill related to the analytical device 60.

[0039] Next, the designated institution prepares an analytical device 60C (S22). For example, a person in charge at the designated institution selects a specific type of analytical device 60 to be used for training the subject from among multiple types of analytical devices, and also selects a specific analytical device 60C to be used for training from the selected multiple analytical devices 60 of the specific type. The analytical device 60C is one embodiment of a "second analytical device." The second analytical device 60C may be the same as the analytical device 60B, the first analytical device in the example of FIG. 1, or may be different from the analytical device 60B. However, the analytical device 60C is the same specific type of analytical device 60 as the analytical device 60B. The analytical device 60C is not limited to being owned or exclusively by the designated institution, but may also be owned or exclusively by the manufacturing institution, or the designated institution may borrow the analytical device 60C from the manufacturing institution.

[0040] Next, at the designated institution, instructors capable of analyzing samples using the analytical device 60C are prepared (S23). For example, a person in charge at the designated institution selects at least one instructor from among multiple instructors to instruct the subject. Note that the instructor in this case is an embodiment of a "second instructor," and the instruction by the instructor is an embodiment of "second instruction." The second instructor is a person who does not belong to the research institution. In other words, the second instructor may be a person who belongs to the designated institution, or a person who belongs to the manufacturing institution and is dispatched from the manufacturing institution to the designated institution. Furthermore, the second instructor may be the same as the first instructor in the example of FIG. 1, or may be different from the first instructor.

[0041] Next, at the designated institution, the instructor uses the analytical device 60C owned by the designated institution to provide training to the subject on sample analysis (S24).

[0042] Next, at the designated institution, the instructor certifies the analytical skill of the trained trainee (S25). For example, the instructor selects at least one analytical skill level from a plurality of analytical skill levels as the analytical skill of the trained trainee, and registers information indicating the selected analytical skill level in the designated terminal 30. If the trainee's analytical skill level has improved since the first training session in the example of FIG. 1 , the instructor selects an analytical skill level higher than that of the first training session and registers information indicating the selected analytical skill level in the designated terminal 30. More specifically, the instructor updates the analytical skill information indicating the analytical skill level imparted to the trainee during the first training session to analytical skill information indicating the analytical skill level imparted to the trainee during the second training session, and stores the updated analytical skill information in the designated terminal 30. Note that the analytical skill possessed by the trainee in this case is one embodiment of a "second analytical skill."

[0043] Furthermore, the trainer inputs into the designated terminal 30, in association with the subject information including personal information of the trainee who received the training, the updated analytical skill information of the subject described above, trainer information including personal information of the trainer, and analytical device information including information indicating the analytical device 60C used when providing the training (for example, the type of analytical device 60C, the model number of the analytical device 60C, or the serial number of the analytical device 60C), and stores this subject information, analytical skill information, trainer information, and analytical device information together as training information in the designated terminal 30 (S26).

[0044] The trainer communicates with the management device 10 using the designated terminal 30, and outputs the updated training information from the designated terminal 30 to the management device 10 (S27).

[0045] The management device 10 acquires the updated training information from the designated terminal 30, and stores the acquired updated training information in the training information database 132 of the storage device 13 (S28). This allows the management device 10 to manage subject information about subjects who have undergone retraining under the guidance of an instructor, in association with analytical skill information, instructor information, and analysis device information.

[0046] [Configuration of management device] 3 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the management device 10 according to embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the management device 10 includes a calculation device 11, a memory 12, a storage device 13, a communication device 14, and a data reading device 15.

[0047] The arithmetic device 11 is a computing entity (computer) that executes predetermined processing. The arithmetic device 11 is configured with a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro-Processing Unit), a TPU (Tensor Processing Unit), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). A processor, which is an example of the arithmetic device 11, has the function of executing predetermined processing by executing a predetermined program. However, some or all of these functions may be implemented using dedicated hardware circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). The term "processor" is not limited to a processor in the narrow sense that executes processing using a stored program, such as a CPU, an MPU, a TPU, or a GPU, but may also include hardwired circuits such as an ASIC or an FPGA. The arithmetic device 11 described above can also be interpreted as a processing circuitry that executes predetermined processing. The arithmetic device 11 may be configured on one chip or multiple chips. Furthermore, the processor and associated processing circuitry may be comprised of multiple computers interconnected by wire or wirelessly, such as via a local area network or a wireless network. The processor and associated processing circuitry may also be comprised of a cloud computer that performs remote calculations based on input data and outputs the results of the calculations to other devices at remote locations.

[0048] The memory 12 includes a volatile storage area (for example, a working area) that temporarily stores program code, work memory, etc. when the arithmetic unit 11 executes various programs. Examples of the memory 12 include volatile memories such as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), and non-volatile memories such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and flash memory.

[0049] The storage device 13 stores various programs and various data executed by the arithmetic device 11. For example, the storage device 13 stores a management program 131 executed by the arithmetic device 11 and a training information database 132 used in processing according to the management program 131. The storage device 13 may be one or more non-transitory computer readable media, or may be one or more computer readable storage media. Examples of the storage device 13 include a hard disk drive (HDD) and a solid state drive (SSD).

[0050] Management program 131 includes a program that defines a processing procedure for arithmetic device 11 to execute a management process for managing subjects. By executing the management process in accordance with management program 131, arithmetic device 11 can manage personal information and analytical skill levels of multiple subjects, including subjects who analyze samples using analytical device 60A owned by a research institution, using training information database 132. Management program 131 may be acquired by communication device 14 from another terminal such as manufacturing terminal 40 via a network, or may be read by data reading device 15 from storage medium 150.

[0051] The training information database 132 stores training information including subject information including personal information of the subject who received the training, analytical skill information indicating the analytical skills of the subject, instructor information including personal information of the instructor who is training the subject, and analytical device information indicating the type of analytical device 60B used when the training was provided.

[0052] The communication device 14 is an interface that allows the computing device 11 to communicate with other terminals, such as the research terminal 20, the designated terminal 30, or the manufacturing terminal 40, via a wired or wireless connection.

[0053] Data reader 15 is a device for reading data stored in storage medium 150. Storage medium 150 may be any medium capable of storing various types of data, such as a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory.

[0054] Management device 10 configured as described above communicates with designated terminal 30 using communication device 14, acquires training information from designated terminal 30, and stores the acquired training information in training information database 132 of storage device 13. Furthermore, management device 10 communicates with research terminal 20 using communication device 14, and when it acquires a viewing request from research terminal 20, outputs the training information to research terminal 20 in response to the viewing request. In this way, management device 10 manages training information of subjects who have undergone training under the guidance of an instructor, and can output training information of a specific subject corresponding to the viewing request to research terminal 20 in response to a viewing request from research terminal 20.

[0055] [Training Information Database] 4 to 6 are diagrams illustrating the training information database 132 included in the management device 10 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 shows an example of subject information included in the training information database 132. As shown in FIG. 4, the subject information includes personal information of each of a plurality of subjects registered in the training information database 132. For example, the subject information includes a subject ID for identifying each subject, the name, gender, age, contact information, and career history (such as educational background or work history) of each subject. Note that the subject information shown in FIG. 3 is an example, and the subject information may include other information for identifying the subject.

[0056] The management device 10 may acquire the subject information described above from any of the research terminal 20, the designated terminal 30, and the manufacturing terminal 40. For example, an instructor may input subject information about a subject whom the instructor has trained into the designated terminal 30, and the management device 10 may acquire the subject information from the designated terminal 30 and store it in the training information database 132.

[0057] FIG. 5 shows an example of instructor information included in the training information database 132. As shown in FIG. 5, the instructor information includes personal information of each of a plurality of instructors registered in the training information database 132. For example, the instructor information includes an instructor ID for identifying each instructor, the name of each instructor, the gender of each instructor, the age of each instructor, contact information of each instructor, and the background of each instructor (such as educational background or work history). Note that the instructor information shown in FIG. 5 is an example, and the instructor information may include other information for identifying the instructor.

[0058] The management device 10 may acquire the above-mentioned trainer information from any of the research terminal 20, the designated terminal 30, and the manufacturing terminal 40. For example, the trainer may input trainer information about himself / herself into the designated terminal 30, and the management device 10 may acquire the trainer information from the designated terminal 30 and store it in the training information database 132.

[0059] FIG. 6 shows an example of analytical skill information included in the training information database 132. As shown in FIG. 6, the analytical skill information includes information indicating multiple analytical skill levels established according to the type of analytical device. FIG. 6 shows three types of analytical devices: a first analytical device, a second analytical device, and a third analytical device. The first analytical device, the second analytical device, and the third analytical device are different types of analytical devices, and among these multiple types of analytical devices, analytical devices 60 of the same specific type as analytical devices 60A to 60C are included. For example, the first analytical device is an HPLC, the second analytical device is an MS, and the third analytical device is a gas chromatograph (GS). Note that the analytical devices 60A to 60C shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 above are the same type of analytical device 60. For example, the analytical devices 60A to 60C may be the first analytical device (HPLC), the second analytical device (MS), or the third analytical device (GS). That is, the first, second and third analytical devices may all be a particular type of analytical device 60 .

[0060] Each type of analyzer is provided with multiple analytical skill levels. In the example of Fig. 6, three analytical skill levels, levels 1 to 3, are provided for each type of analyzer, namely, the first analyzer, the second analyzer, and the third analyzer.

[0061] For example, level 1 corresponding to the first analyzer is a level at which a sample can be analyzed using an analyzer 60 belonging to the first analyzer type, but an analytical method cannot be constructed. Level 2 corresponding to the first analyzer is a level at which a sample can be analyzed using an analyzer 60 belonging to the first analyzer type, and an analytical method can be constructed. Level 3 corresponding to the third analyzer is a level at which a sample can be analyzed using an analyzer 60 belonging to the first analyzer type, and instructs others on analyzing samples using an analyzer 60 belonging to the first analyzer type. Similarly, multiple analytical skill levels are provided for the second and third analyzers according to the content of the analytical skill. Note that the number of analytical skill levels is not limited to that shown in FIG. 6, and multiple analytical skill levels divided into other numbers may be provided for each type of analyzer 60.

[0062] The subject information of each subject is associated with analytical skill information. Specifically, the subject ID linked to the subject information of each subject is associated with information indicating the analysis level for each type of analysis device 60. In the example of FIG. 6, a "1" is assigned to a portion having an analysis level, and a "0" is assigned to a portion not having an analysis level.

[0063] For example, a subject with a subject ID of "A001" is associated with an analytical skill level of level 1 for the first analytical device. This indicates that a subject with a subject ID of "A001" can analyze samples using an analytical device 60 belonging to the first analytical device type, but cannot construct an analytical method. For example, a subject with a subject ID of "A002" is associated with analytical skill levels of level 1 and level 2 for the second analytical device. This indicates that a subject with a subject ID of "A002" can analyze samples using an analytical device 60 belonging to the second analytical device type, and can construct an analytical method.

[0064] Furthermore, the subject information and analytical skill information of each subject are associated with the instructor information of the instructor who instructed the subject. Specifically, the subject ID linked to the subject information of each subject is associated with the instructor ID linked to the instructor information of the instructor who instructed the subject.

[0065] For example, a subject having a subject ID of "A001" is associated with an instructor having an instructor ID of "B002". In other words, it is indicated that the subject having a subject ID of "A001" has been trained by an instructor having an instructor ID of "B002". For example, a subject having a subject ID of "A002" is associated with an instructor having an instructor ID of "B001". In other words, it is indicated that the subject having a subject ID of "A002" has been trained by an instructor having an instructor ID of "B001".

[0066] 7 is a diagram for explaining updating of the training information database 132 by the management device 10 according to Embodiment 1. As described using FIG. 2, the management device 10 is configured to update the analytical skill information stored in the training information database 132 in response to an improvement in the analytical skill level of the subject as a result of continuous training.

[0067] 7, if a subject with a subject ID of "A001" undergoes analysis training using an analysis device 60 belonging to the first analysis device type under the guidance of an instructor with an instructor ID of "B002" and as a result the analysis skill level increases from level 1 to level 3, the management device 10 updates the analysis skill information. As a result, the analysis skill information in the training information database 132 indicates that the subject with the subject ID of "A001" has an analysis skill level of level 3 using an analysis device 60 belonging to the first analysis device type.

[0068] Furthermore, if a subject with a subject ID of "A001" undergoes analysis training using an analysis device 60 belonging to the third analysis device type under the guidance of an instructor with an instructor ID of "B003" and as a result the analysis skill level reaches level 2, the management device 10 updates the analysis skill information. As a result, the analysis skill information in the training information database 132 indicates that the subject with a subject ID of "A001" has an analysis skill level of level 2 using an analysis device 60 belonging to the third analysis device type.

[0069] In this way, in the training information database 132, subject information for each of the multiple subjects who use the management system 1, analytical skill information for each subject, instructor information for the instructor who instructs each subject, and analytical device information indicating the type of analytical device 60 used when the instruction was provided are associated with each other. As a result, by referring to the training information database 132, the management device 10 can identify the type of analytical device each subject can use to analyze samples and the analytical skill level of each subject.

[0070] [Management process flow for management system 1] Fig. 8 is a flowchart of main processing executed by the management system 1 according to embodiment 1. The processing steps of the management device 10 shown in Fig. 8 are realized by the arithmetic device 11 executing the management program 131.

[0071] 8, the designated terminal 30 selects an analytical device 60 to be used for training the subject (S301). Specifically, the designated terminal 30 selects a specific type of analytical device 60 to be used for training the subject from among multiple types of analytical devices in accordance with an external input, and also selects a specific analytical device 60 to be used for training from the selected multiple analytical devices 60 of the specific type, and acquires analytical device information indicating the selected analytical device 60 (S301).

[0072] The designated terminal 30 selects an instructor (S302). Specifically, the designated terminal 30 selects at least one instructor from among a plurality of instructors who will instruct the subject in accordance with an external input, and acquires instructor information indicating the selected instructor (S302).

[0073] After the subject is instructed by the instructor and the instructor certifies the subject's analytical skill, the designated terminal 30 stores the training information in the storage device 13 in accordance with an external input (S303). Specifically, the designated terminal 30 associates subject information of the subject who has been trained under the instructor's instruction, analytical skill information indicating the subject's analytical skill level certified by the instructor, instructor information of the instructor, and analytical device information indicating the analytical device 60 used when the instruction was given, and stores the training information including each of these pieces of information in the training information database 132.

[0074] The designated terminal 30 outputs the training information to the management device 10 (S304). After that, the designated terminal 30 ends this process.

[0075] On the other hand, when the management device 10 acquires the training information of the subject from the designated terminal 30, it stores the acquired training information in the training information database 132 of the storage device 13 and updates the training information database 132 (S101).

[0076] Meanwhile, the research terminal 20, in accordance with an external input, outputs to the management device 10 a viewing request for viewing the training status of the subject dispatched to the designated institution (S201).

[0077] When the management device 10 receives a viewing request from the research terminal 20, it identifies the subject based on personal information and other information included in the received viewing request (S102). The management device 10 outputs training information including subject information and analytical skill information of the identified subject to the research terminal 20 (S103). Thereafter, the management device 10 terminates this process.

[0078] On the other hand, when the research terminal 20 acquires the training information from the management device 10, it displays the acquired training information on a display (not shown) (S202). After that, the research terminal 20 ends this process.

[0079] As described above, in the management system 1, the management device 10 acquires training information from the designated terminal 30 and stores the acquired training information in the training information database 132 of the storage device 13, thereby managing the training information of subjects who have undergone training under the guidance of an instructor. Furthermore, when a viewing request is acquired from the research terminal 20, the management device 10 outputs the training information to the research terminal 20 in response to the viewing request, so that the person in charge at the research institution can check the training status of the person in charge they have dispatched by viewing the training information acquired from the management device 10.

[0080] <Embodiment 2> An analysis method, a management system 1A, and a management device 10 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9. In the second embodiment, only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the other parts will be omitted.

[0081] 9 is a diagram showing the main configuration of a management system 1A according to embodiment 2. In the management system 1A according to embodiment 2, in addition to research institutions, manufacturing institutions, and designated institutions, there are also dispatching institutions and a dispatching institution database 70.

[0082] The dispatching agency is an agency that responds to a dispatch request from a research institution and dispatches a subject to analyze samples using analytical device 60A at the research institution. The dispatching agency has a dispatch terminal 50. As in the first embodiment, the research institution is not limited to having analytical device 60A before the subject is trained in analysis at the designated institution, but may have analytical device 60A by purchasing or renting it before the subject, who has acquired analytical skills through training, is dispatched to the research institution and performs analyses using analytical device 60A.

[0083] The dispatch terminal 50 is a computer that is communicatively connected to each of the management device 10, the research terminal 20, and the designated terminal 30. The dispatch terminal 50 is configured as a desktop, laptop, or tablet PC, or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

[0084] In the second embodiment to which the management system 1A configured as described above is applied, first, a training target is dispatched from a dispatching agency to a designated agency (S31). The target to be dispatched to the designated agency includes a person who belongs to the dispatching agency (for example, a person who is recruited by the dispatching agency).

[0085] Next, the designated institution prepares an analytical device 60B of the same specific type as analytical device 60A (S32). The designated institution prepares an instructor who can analyze samples using analytical device 60B (S33). The instructor at the designated institution uses analytical device 60B owned by the designated institution to provide training to the trainee on sample analysis (S34). The trainee's ID, name, gender, age, contact information, and career history are registered in advance in a dispatching institution database 70 managed by the dispatching institution, and can only be viewed by a person in charge at the dispatching institution who uses dispatch terminal 50.

[0086] At the designated institution, the trainer certifies the analytical skills of the trainee who has received the training (S35). Furthermore, the trainer inputs into the designated terminal 30 the trainee ID of the trainee who has received the training, the trainee's analytical skill information described above, trainer information including the trainee's personal information, and analytical device information including information indicating the type of analytical device 60B used when the training was provided, in association with each other, and stores the trainee ID, analytical skill information, trainer information, and analytical device information together as training information in the designated terminal 30 (S36).

[0087] The instructor communicates with the management device 10 using the designated terminal 30 and outputs training information from the designated terminal 30 to the management device 10 (S37). The management device 10 acquires the training information of the subject from the designated terminal 30 and stores the acquired training information in the training information database 132 of the storage device 13 (S38). That is, the information stored in the training information database 132 is different from that of the first embodiment in that it is limited to the subject ID, analysis skill information, instructor information, and analysis device information.

[0088] Meanwhile, at the dispatching agency, the person in charge communicates with management device 10 using dispatching terminal 50 and outputs a viewing request to management device 10 to view the training status of the subject dispatched to the designated agency (S39). The person in charge includes, for example, the dispatching person.

[0089] In response to the request for viewing from the dispatching terminal 50, the management device 10 identifies the target person based on the target person ID included in the request for viewing, and outputs training information including analytical skill information of the identified target person to the dispatching terminal 50 (S40). This allows the person in charge at the dispatching agency to check the training status of the dispatched target person by viewing the training information acquired from the management device 10.

[0090] At the research institution, the person in charge communicates with the dispatch terminal 50 using the research terminal 20 and outputs a dispatch request to the dispatch terminal 50 to request the dispatch of a subject to analyze a sample using the analytical device 60A at the research institution (S41).

[0091] In response to a dispatch request from the research terminal 20, the person in charge at the dispatching institution dispatches a subject who has acquired analytical skills for the analytical device 60 through training to the research institution (S42). Here, when deciding on a subject to dispatch to the research institution, the person in charge at the dispatching institution uses the dispatching terminal 50 to refer to the name, gender, age, contact information, and career history stored in the dispatching institution database 70 in addition to the training information acquired from the management device 10. Note that in order to search for a subject having the analytical skill level desired by the research institution person in charge, the person in charge at the dispatching institution may communicate with the management device 10 using the dispatching terminal 50 and output analytical skill information indicating the desired analytical skill level to the management device 10 as a viewing request. In response to this, the management device 10 may extract the subject ID of a subject having the analytical skill level indicated in the analytical skill information from the training information database 132 based on the acquired analytical skill information, and output the subject ID to the dispatching terminal 50. In this way, the person in charge at the dispatching institution can identify a subject having the analytical skill level desired by the research institution person in charge and dispatch the identified subject to the research institution. In this way, management device 10 may output at least one of the target person ID and the analytical skill information in response to a viewing request from dispatch terminal 50.

[0092] At the research institute, a subject who has acquired analytical skills for the analytical device 60 performs an analysis of a sample using the analytical device 60A (S43).

[0093] As described above, according to the analytical method and management system 1A of the second embodiment, an instructor with analytical skills related to the same specific type of analytical device 60 as the analytical device 60A owned by the research institution can provide training to subjects on sample analysis using another specific type of analytical device 60B owned by a designated institution other than the research institution. This allows the analytical device 60A owned by the research institution to be used for the original research, thereby avoiding research delays. Furthermore, because the instructor who instructs the subjects is not affiliated with the research institution, research delays due to researchers' time being taken up by instruction can be avoided. Furthermore, trained subjects are dispatched to the research institution. This allows for a continuous supply of personnel with analytical skills related to the specific type of analytical device 60 without causing research delays, enabling samples to be properly analyzed by skilled analysts. Furthermore, research institutions that previously gave up on purchasing a specific type of analytical device 60 due to a lack of personnel with analytical skills can now continue to secure personnel with analytical skills, which encourages them to purchase the specific type of analytical device 60. This can encourage such research institutions to purchase analytical devices 60.

[0094] In the above-described first and second embodiments, an instructor at a designated institution instructs a trainee, and training information is output from the designated terminal 30 to the management device 10. However, an instructor dispatched from a manufacturing institution may also instruct the trainee. For example, at least one engineer may be selected from the engineers stored in a personnel information database owned by the manufacturing institution, and the selected engineer may be dispatched to the designated institution as an instructor. Furthermore, the training of trainees is not limited to being performed by an instructor at a designated institution; an instructor at a manufacturing institution may instruct trainees, and training information may be output from the manufacturing terminal 40 to the management device 10. In this case, the manufacturing institution is one embodiment of the "other institution." In other words, the manufacturing institution may play the role of the designated institution.

[0095] [Aspect] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments described above are examples of the following aspects.

[0096] (Item 1) An analytical method according to one embodiment is a method for analyzing a sample carried out at a specific institution. The analytical method includes the steps of: a first instructor having analytical skills related to a specific type of analytical device providing first instruction to a subject on sample analysis using a first analytical device of the specific type owned by an institution different from the specific institution; and the subject, having received the first instruction, performing an analysis of the sample using the specific type of analytical device owned by the specific institution.

[0097] According to the analytical method described in paragraph 1, an instructor with analytical skills related to a specific type of analytical equipment owned by a specific institution provides training to subjects on sample analysis using a specific type of analytical equipment owned by an institution other than the specific institution, allowing the specific type of analytical equipment owned by the specific institution to be used for the original research, thereby avoiding delays in the research. This makes it possible to continuously secure personnel with analytical skills related to a specific type of analytical equipment without causing delays in the research, and to have skilled analysts analyze samples appropriately.

[0098] (Clause 2) In the analytical method described in paragraph 1, the first instructor belongs to a manufacturer of a specific type of analytical device or a designated organization designated by the manufacturer.

[0099] According to the analytical method described in paragraph 2, subjects are trained by instructors who belong to the manufacturer of the specific type of analytical equipment or to an institution designated by the manufacturer, thereby avoiding research delays due to researchers having to spend time on training.

[0100] (Item 3) In the analytical method according to item 1 or 2, the first analytical device is owned by a manufacturer of a specific type of analytical device or a designated organization designated by the manufacturer.

[0101] According to the analytical method described in paragraph 3, subjects are trained using a first analytical device owned by a manufacturer of a specific type of analytical device or a designated institution designated by the manufacturer, so that the specific type of analytical device owned by the designated institution can be used for the actual research, thereby avoiding delays in the research.

[0102] (Clause 4) The analysis method described in any of clauses 1 to 3 further includes a step in which a first instructor certifies a first analytical skill possessed by a subject who has received the first instruction; a step in which a management device that manages the subjects associates and stores subject information about the subject who has received the first instruction with analytical skill information indicating the first analytical skill; and a step in which the management device outputs at least one of the subject information and the analytical skill information in response to an external request.

[0103] According to the analysis method described in paragraph 4, an external person in charge can check the training status of the dispatched subject by viewing the subject information and analytical skill information obtained from the management device.

[0104] (Clause 5) The analytical method described in any one of clauses 1 to 4 further includes the steps of a second instructor, who has analytical skills related to a specific type of analytical device, providing second instruction on sample analysis to a subject using the second analytical device, which is the specific type of analytical device; a step in which the second instructor certifies the second analytical skill possessed by the subject who has received the second instruction; and a step in which the management device updates analytical skill information based on the second analytical skill. The second analytical device may be the same as or different from the first analytical device. The second instructor may be the same as or different from the first instructor.

[0105] According to the analysis method described in paragraph 5, it is possible to retrain a subject to improve their analytical skill level, and it is also possible to update analytical skill information based on the analytical skill level assigned to the subject after retraining.

[0106] (Article 6) In the analytical method described in paragraph 5, the second instructor belongs to a manufacturer of the specific type of analytical device or a designated organization designated by the manufacturer.

[0107] According to the analytical method described in paragraph 6, subjects will be retrained by instructors who belong to the manufacturer of the specific type of analytical equipment or to an institution designated by the manufacturer, thereby avoiding research delays due to researchers having to spend time on training.

[0108] (7) In the analytical method according to 5 or 6, the second analytical device is owned by a manufacturer of a specific type of analytical device or a designated organization designated by the manufacturer.

[0109] According to the analytical method described in paragraph 7, the subjects are retrained using a second analytical device owned by the manufacturer of the specific type of analytical device or a designated institution designated by the manufacturer, so that the specific type of analytical device owned by the specific institution can be used for the original research, thereby avoiding delays in the research.

[0110] (Item 8) The analysis method described in any one of Items 4 to 7 further includes a step in which the management device stores instructor information related to the first instructor in association with the subject information and the analytical skill information.

[0111] According to the analysis method described in paragraph 8, the management device can manage the subject information of the subject in association with the instructor information and analytical skill information of the instructor who has trained the subject.

[0112] (Item 9) The analysis method described in any one of Items 4 to 8 further includes a step in which the management device stores analysis device information about the first analysis device in association with the subject information and the analysis skill information.

[0113] According to the analysis method described in paragraph 9, the management device can manage the subject information of the subject in association with the analysis device information and analysis skill information of the analysis device used when providing guidance to the subject.

[0114] (Item 10) In the analysis method described in any one of Items 4 to 9, the analysis skill information indicates a plurality of levels of analysis skill provided according to the type of analysis device.

[0115] According to the analysis method described in paragraph 10, the management device can manage the analytical skills of the subjects using multiple analytical skill levels provided according to the type of analytical device.

[0116] (Item 11) A management system according to one embodiment manages subjects who analyze samples using a specific type of analytical device at a specific institution. The management system includes a management device that manages the subjects and a terminal communicably connected to the management device. After an instructor with analytical skills related to the specific type of analytical device provides sample analysis instruction to the subject using the specific type of analytical device owned by an institution other than the specific institution, the terminal outputs subject information about the subject and analytical skill information indicating the analytical skills possessed by the trained subject to the management device. The management device stores the subject information and analytical skill information acquired from the terminal in association with each other, and outputs at least one of the subject information and analytical skill information in response to an external request.

[0117] According to the management system described in paragraph 11, instructors with analytical skills related to a specific type of analytical equipment owned by a specific institution can provide training to subjects on sample analysis using a specific type of analytical equipment owned by another institution, allowing the specific type of analytical equipment owned by the specific institution to be used for the original research, thereby avoiding research delays.This allows for a continuous supply of personnel with analytical skills related to a specific type of analytical equipment without causing research delays, and allows skilled analysts to analyze samples appropriately.Furthermore, external personnel can check the training status of dispatched subjects by viewing the training information obtained from the management device.

[0118] (Item 12) A management device according to one embodiment manages subjects who analyze samples using a specific type of analytical device at a specific institution. The management device includes a storage device and a computing device that executes processing for managing the subjects. After an instructor with analytical skills related to the specific type of analytical device provides sample analysis instruction to the subject using a specific type of analytical device owned by an institution other than the specific institution, the computing device acquires subject information about the subject and analytical skill information indicating the analytical skills possessed by the trained subject, associates the acquired subject information with the analytical skill information and stores it in the storage device, and outputs at least one of the subject information and the analytical skill information in response to an external request.

[0119] According to the management device described in paragraph 12, an instructor with analytical skills related to a specific type of analytical equipment owned by a specific institution can provide training to subjects on sample analysis using a specific type of analytical equipment owned by another institution, allowing the specific type of analytical equipment owned by the specific institution to be used for the original research, thereby avoiding research delays. This allows for a continuous supply of personnel with analytical skills related to a specific type of analytical equipment without causing research delays, and allows skilled analysts to properly analyze samples. Furthermore, external personnel can view the training information obtained from the management device to check the training status of the dispatched subjects. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 1,1A management system, 10 management device, 11 arithmetic unit, 12 memory, 13 storage device, 14 communication device, 15 data reading device, 20 research terminal, 30 designated terminal, 40 manufacturing terminal, 50 dispatch terminal, 60,60A,60B,60C analysis device, 70 dispatch agency database, 131 management program, 132 training information database.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing a sample carried out at a particular institution, comprising: a step in which a first instructor having analytical skills related to a specific type of analytical device provides a first instruction to a subject on sample analysis using a first analytical device, which is the specific type of analytical device owned by an institution other than the specific institution; an analysis method comprising a step in which the subject, having received the first instruction, performs an analysis of a sample using the specific type of analytical device owned by the specific institution.

2. The analytical method according to claim 1 , wherein the first instructor belongs to a manufacturer of the specific type of analytical device or a designated organization designated by the manufacturer.

3. The analytical method according to claim 1 , wherein the first analytical device is owned by a manufacturer of the specific type of analytical device or a designated organization designated by the manufacturer.

4. A step in which the first instructor certifies a first analytical skill possessed by the subject who has received the first instruction; a step in which a management device that manages the subject stores subject information regarding the subject who has received the first instruction and analytical skill information indicating the first analytical skill in association with each other; The analysis method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a step in which the management device outputs at least one of the subject information and the analytical skill information in response to an external request.

5. a step in which a second instructor who has the analytical skills related to the specific type of analytical device provides second instruction to the subject on sample analysis using a second analytical device that is the specific type of analytical device; a step in which the second instructor certifies a second analytical skill possessed by the subject who has received the second instruction; The management device further includes updating the analysis skill information based on the second analysis skill; the second analytical device may be the same as or different from the first analytical device; The method of claim 4 , wherein the second leader is the same as or different from the first leader.

6. The analytical method according to claim 5 , wherein the second instructor belongs to a manufacturer of the specific type of analytical device or a designated organization designated by the manufacturer.

7. The analytical method according to claim 5 , wherein the second analytical device is owned by a manufacturer of the specific type of analytical device or a designated organization designated by the manufacturer.

8. The analysis method according to claim 4 , further comprising the step of: storing, by the management device, instructor information relating to the first instructor in association with the subject information and the analytical skill information.

9. The analysis method according to claim 4 , further comprising the step of: storing, by the management device, analysis device information regarding the first analysis device in association with the subject information and the analysis skill information.

10. The analysis method according to claim 4 , wherein the analysis skill information indicates a plurality of levels of analysis skill provided according to the type of analysis device.

11. A management system for managing subjects who analyze samples using a specific type of analytical device at a specific institution, a management device for managing the target person; a terminal communicably connected to the management device; the terminal outputs, to the management device, subject information about the subject and analytical skill information indicating the analytical skill possessed by the subject who received the instruction, after an instructor who has analytical skills related to the specific type of analytical device has provided the subject with instruction on sample analysis using the specific type of analytical device owned by an institution different from the specific institution; The management device The subject information and the analytical skill information acquired from the terminal are stored in association with each other; A management system that outputs at least one of the subject information and the analytical skill information in response to an external request.

12. A management device for managing subjects who analyze samples using a specific type of analysis device at a specific institution, A storage device; a computing device that executes a process for managing the target person, The computing device an instructor having analytical skills related to the specific type of analytical device provides the subject with instruction on sample analysis using the specific type of analytical device owned by an institution different from the specific institution, and then acquires subject information related to the subject and analytical skill information indicating the analytical skills possessed by the subject who has received the instruction; The acquired subject information and the analytical skill information are stored in the storage device in association with each other; A management device that outputs at least one of the subject information and the analytical skill information in response to an external request.

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