Unlike most places of business, which feature offices or cubicles for employees, laboratory workers must function at maximum efficiency in a communal space.  To enable each worker to reach his or her full potential, systems need to be in place to maintain order in a busy lab.   A laboratory that is cluttered or poorly organized is not only inefficient, but it is also an unsafe workplace for employees.  If your laboratory is poorly organized or mis-managed, below are just a few of the benefits you may be missing out on:

Time is Money

In the biotech industry, the expression “time is money” rings especially true.  To gain the competitive edge against other laboratories or pharmaceutical companies, your team needs to work smarter and faster.  When funding in the form of millions of dollars is at stake, or a patent deadline is looming, there is no room for error.  I once worked with a client who said her laboratory was so disorganized; it took her three hours on average to simply gather the materials for an experiment!  Can you afford similar delays?

Client Perception is Key

Not only can a disorganized laboratory space slow your progress, but it can give potential clients a negative impression.  If a VIP or investor were to request a tour of your laboratory, would you be proud to show it off?  What if your funding were dependent on the condition of your lab?  Show pride in your work by taking pride in your workspace: it will show.

Safety First

If a busy laboratory is not strictly organized, serious harm could result.  In a lab environment, it is vitally important to clearly label and correctly store chemicals, to store equipment safely, and to keep surfaces clean.  Even a shattered pipette can injure a member of your team.  By making sure that your lab is well-organized, you may be protecting an employee from serious injury, not only ensuring peace of mind but also eliminating potential Workers’ Comp. costs.  Increased safety also increases profits: consistent compliance with OSHA standards for chemical storage reduces fees and penalties, and your lab’s reputation for safety and efficiency may also attract the best talent.

Use Resources Wisely

Your employees are valuable to you because of their advanced skill and knowledge.  If they are spending too much time finding paperwork, instruments, glassware, or other materials, you are gravely misallocating your resources.  Let me keep things running smoothly so your staff can get down to business.
In addition to misallocating personnel hours, many labs lose money because they do not effectively order and store supplies.  Through organization and the implementation of an effective inventory system, a laboratory can save money by not excessively ordering glassware, chemicals and consumables.

Contact Whalen for Lab Organization and Management

A biochemist by training, I have more than ten years of laboratory experience.  I understand the very unique organizational needs of a laboratory.  I know how to properly and safely store chemicals, organize glassware, and ensure an efficient workflow for experiments, research, and analysis.  If your valuable laboratory workers are wasting their time on organization or maintenance, your profit margin is shrinking.  My laboratory organization and lab management services can help you regain control and establish order.  Contact Whalen Organizing & Consulting today to learn more about how I can help you increase the efficiency of your lab.