9 Ways to Optimise Laboratory Efficiency

The Lean Lab Checklist offers a simple way to assess the efficiency of any lab and identify potential areas for improvement. Tips on how to simplify processes, eliminate unnecessary steps and improve efficiency are provided, which will provide great benefits to lab managers in many industries.

Applying a lean approach in the laboratory environment can increase efficiency and productivity in industries such as pharmaceutical, chemical, and cosmetics, as well as the food and beverage industry. The Lean Lab Checklist, developed in collaboration with external experts, is an ideal place to start to implement Lean Laboratory principles. This 9-point checklist helps lab managers of any sized lab to easily evaluate how lean a lab currently is, and identify the actions which will have the greatest potential to improve efficiency. The checklist is organised into nine areas of improvement, with 35 questions in total. Simply answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to each question and the result provides a useful indication of how lean the laboratory is, and where there is still room for improvement. Helpful tips and recommendations are also provided for each section.

Many lean manufacturing principles can be applied directly to the laboratory. Tools such as value stream mapping can help reduce lead times, costs, and levels of work-in-progress (WIP). Automation of routine laboratory tasks, such as powder dosing and liquid dispensing, can also support a lean laboratory approach. By eliminating unnecessary workflow steps, significant productivity and quality improvements can be achieved.

Download the ‘Lean Lab Checklist’ to see improve efficiency in your laboratory.