5 Tips for Improving Laboratory Efficiency in 2021
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Inefficiencies in the workplace have real-world consequences. Inefficiencies cause delays, increase costs, and –– in general –– have a negative impact on overall company performance. While inefficiency in any field can be problematic to some degree, mistakes and oversights in medical and healthcare sectors can prove to be seriously detrimental –– particularly now due to the impact of COVID-19. As such, today we’re going to take a step back and explain how professionals can work toward improving laboratory efficiency in 2021.
Streamline
Scientists obviously need to be meticulous about their work. Professionals in laboratories may need to double-check or even triple-check their work on a regular basis. However, there’s a difference between being thorough and wasting time on inessential tasks. For example, rather than holding an all-staff meeting for an issue that only relates to two-or-three employees, managers would do well to address such a problem directly –– with only those involved in the matter. Typically, cutting down on the size and frequency of in-person meetings is a good way to boost productivity anyway.
Invest in Quality Equipment
Precision is key to success in the lab. Unfortunately, shoddy, broken, or worn-out equipment can hamper both the productivity and the accuracy of laboratories. Indeed, broken equipment may force an employee to start a process over from the very beginning. Or, outdated equipment may cause a professional to take extra time to generate accurate results from a test. So it only makes sense for business leaders to consistently invest in quality products for their team. What’s more, business leaders should make it a point to manage that equipment carefully. Having a plan in place for maintaining, cleaning, and storing lab equipment can save your organization substantial time and resources.
Develop Contingency Plans
Unexpected mishaps can occur in even the most controlled environments. Files can get lost or accidentally deleted. Important team members may decide to leave at a moment’s notice. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that the world is unpredictable. While you may not be able to foresee what issues you’ll face in 2021, you can develop contingency plans to deal with them accordingly. Taking time out to ensure you’re prepared now can help you avert a potential crisis later. This could include everything from backing up important digital files to bolstering your employee training program.
Increase Automation
In the right context, automated tools can provide significant value for professionals working in laboratories. Note, many automated programs aren’t designed to replace human workers, but rather to supplement their efforts. It’s possible that an automated program may be able to help your team handle certain repetitive tasks.
Review everything
The only way to improve is to welcome change. Reviewing and evaluating your current processes may not be easy, but it will provide you with a blueprint you can use moving forward. Even boosting productivity in the lab by a modest amount can lead to drastically improved outcomes for your company and your clients. Now is the perfect time to sit down and rethink how you do things.
Conclusion
2021 may prove to be another challenging year for scientists and medical professionals, but it also presents numerous positive opportunities as well. At Greiner Bio-One we have years of experience working with laboratories to provide scientists with the highest quality equipment on the market. You can contact us here to learn more about our products and what we can do for your organization.
