Local area networks using personal computers have come of age. The features of such networks to share hardware, software, and data have made them an attractive and cost effective system which can be integrated into the operation of the typical metal analysis laboratory.

This paper is divided into two sections. The first section describes the basic building blocks of a local area network, their capabilities, and the key factors that must be considered in selecting a system for an analytical laboratory. The second section is an example of how to combine network technology with a software package to create a computerized laboratory and analytical data management system.