The three “black holes” that consume the great bulk of a lab’s budget continue to be personnel, equipment, and lab supplies. In no lab can any of these be completely removed, but they may all be deliberately controlled to increase effectiveness and production.
Personnel
The teams who manage these operations are essential to its success, just like they are for every successful organisation. The human administration side of lab management can be very time-consuming, from hiring to encouraging productive teamwork, yet it is the most valuable component of any lab. The selection process has never been more important, given the rapidly rising costs of employee benefits and salary inflation.
Highly skilled researchers who are conversant with all facets of the field and adept at operating sophisticated, expensive equipment are becoming quite expensive and challenging to find. On other hand freshers with little or no experience can come at low price, therefore managers have to keep right balance between the team members.
To make sure that their equipment runs smoothly, many labs maintain maintenance/repair contracts and subscriptions with various businesses and contractors. However, staff that are trained to undertake simple maintenance and repairs on their own equipment can significantly reduce such costs. Note: Highly sophisticated instruments cannot be maintained by In-House Service engineers, in some instances, outside contractors may be able to help cut costs.
Equipment
Many unneeded purchases are made, even though some technologies do call for periodic updates or repurchases. It can be very helpful to ensure the procurement of equipment that is lasting, which is an essential component in budget allocation, by evaluating the laboratory equipment already in use and comparing it with the objectives and regular uses of the lab. Choosing wisely a somewhat more expensive, high-quality product pays dividends. Durable items with low maintenance requirements can significantly reduce maintenance expenses and remove the need to buy new equipment.
New equipment might be a component of the operational transition that many businesses have undergone in order to advance. The most important practical factor might be the financial savings your lab could experience with newer, more energy-efficient equipment. Whether it’s brand-new, used, or the equipment you already have, the most important thing is to make sure it’s working as efficiently as possible while you strive to restore order to your lab’s productivity and profitability.
Lab Consumables
The daily operations of a lab involve consumables, media, chemicals, instruments, , safety equipment, glassware, plastic ware, gases, and even office supplies . However, there are various techniques to reduce the price of lab supplies. Numerous corporations and institutions have agreements with vendors who supply goods at reduced cost if purchased in bulk. If a substantial discount has been obtained and purchasing in quantity is the objective, this technique is quite effective. subscription orders could serve as a potential substitute for this approach. In exchange for a recurring subscription that will be less expensive than a bulk purchase and come with the added benefit of requiring less maintenance of on-hand inventory.
Periodical training of your staff.
Periodical training of the staff which should include management training and its associated goals into your normal technical training procedures to benefit your lab over time by increasing operational effectiveness.
