3 Signs of Manual Integration in Empower CDS
3 Signs of Manual Integration in Empower CDS
Manual integration is one of the key topics in GMP laboratories.
It is not unusual to adjust integration manually during data processing. In many situations, it is completely justified and necessary.
What matters is transparency.
Every manual change should be traceable, understandable, and visible during data review.
In practice, however, manual integration can sometimes be difficult to identify — especially when reviewers are under time pressure or when workflows are not standardized.
This article shows 3 simple ways to detect manual integration in Empower CDS and improve visibility during routine data review.
Why Manual Integration Matters
Manual integration directly influences chromatographic results.
That is why GMP environments require:
- justification of manual changes
- traceability of modifications
- clear review procedures
- visibility in reports and review workflows
The challenge is often not the integration itself.
The challenge is making sure manual actions are visible and easy to review.
Small details in Empower can already provide a lot of information — if you know where to look.
1. Peak Types: Capital vs Lowercase Letters
One of the easiest ways to identify manual integration is through the Peak Types displayed in the Peaks Table.
Each peak contains two letters. The first letter describes the beginning of the peak. The second letter describes the end of the peak.
Examples:
- V = Valley
- B = Baseline
- S = Shoulder
Capital letters indicate automatic integration.
Lowercase letters indicate manual integration.
This small distinction is often overlooked during review, even though it is one of the fastest indicators of manual integration.
2. The “Manual” Column
Another important indicator is the Manual column. If a result contains manual integration, Empower displays a checkmark in this column.
This column can be displayed:
- in the Review Window → Result Window
- in the Project Window via View Filters
- directly in reports
Recommendation
Many laboratories do not include this field in review workflows or reports.
Adding the Manual column to report methods and view filters can significantly improve visibility of manual processing steps.
This is a simple improvement that can save reviewers a lot of time.
3. Peak Codes and Result Codes
Some manual actions are less obvious and can easily go unnoticed.
Two particularly important codes are:
- I03 → User manually deleted a peak (Result Code)
- I04 → User manually deleted a drop line (Peak Code)
Reviewing these codes are important because, the result may already be marked as “manual” due to manual baseline adjustment – but the critical action, like deletion of a peak, is not always immediately visible.
A Practical Improvement
One very useful approach is creating Custom Fields that automatically detect I03 & I04 codes, and other manual integration indicators.
This allows reviewers to identify critical results at one glance instead of manually checking each indicator.
This makes data review faster, more consistent, and less dependent on individual reviewers.
Manual Integration Is About Visibility
Manual integration itself is not automatically a problem.
In GMP environments, the important part is traceability, transparency, and consistent review workflows.
Empower already contains many useful indicators for this. The key is integrating them into daily workflows in a practical and structured way.
Want to Improve Your Data Review n Empower?
If you would like to:
- improve visibility of manual integration
- automate manual integration detection
- optimize your review workflows
- create useful Custom Fields
- reduce time spent during review
feel free to reach out.
We regularly support QC laboratories with practical Empower CDS workflow optimization and mentoring.
Book a free 25-minute consulting session to discuss your setup and challenges.
If you need support with Empower, you can also explore our trainings, hands-on workshops, and mentoring program, designed for analytical laboratories working in regulated environments.