A system or component that manages the automation in the laboratory or a part of it. Automation involves the integration or interfacing of automated or robotic transport systems, analytical instruments, and pre- or post-analytical process equipment such as automated centrifuges and aliquoters, decappers, recappers, sorters, and specimen storage and retrieval systems. This actor receives work orders from the Order Filler. It manages the processing of the ordered tests on the appropriate devices, and sends technically validated results back to the Order Filler. This actor must be considered even if it manages a small part of the analytical process; e.g. if it manages one single analytical instrument. Multiple Automation Managers can be related to one Order Filler. The Automation Manager can match unexpected results produced by an analyzer with the appropriate incoming Work Order, or create a new Work Order to fit the unsolicited observations and send them to the OF.