The rubber industry, considered by many as a conservative industry, is
rapidly catching up the speed of the information age, by adopting new
techniques for development and testing of new compounds, and by impro
ving Quality Control Systems through integrated networks with Manufact
uring Resource Planning Systems and Laboratory Information Systems, Th
e rubber manufacturer will need to have a more or less instant access
to the latest data-sheets and related information regarding chemicals
and will need to supply development results and quality statements to
its customers as a more or less ''on-line'' report facility. True inte
gration of all the different laboratory software using real-time data
exchange will become essential in future, Data format independent lab
databases with connections to any other application will be required m
ore and more in order to be able to satisfy the customer's needs.