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Top 5 Asset Management Headaches for Pharma Labs (and How to Cure Them)!
As a lab professional, you focus on developing protocols and running assays. But what happens when you’re suddenly tasked with managing the lab’s equipment?
Many lab professionals find themselves in this position, which can be a real headache. From procuring new equipment to ensuring its proper maintenance, asset management can be a time-consuming and frustrating process. Sound familiar?
We’ve outlined the top 5 asset management headaches for pharma labs and the effective solutions to cure them below.
Headache 1: Procurement and Lead Times
Identifying the right vendors and navigating long lead times can be a major challenge. It’s essential to find vendors who understand the specific needs of your lab and can provide timely delivery of equipment.
Solution:
Develop a comprehensive vendor qualification process and establish strong relationships with key suppliers. Consider implementing a vendor management system to streamline procurement and track lead times.
Headache 2: Documentation and Compliance
Generating appropriate documentation, such as management of change (MOC) documents and risk assessments, is crucial for compliance. Failure to do so can result in costly delays and regulatory issues.
Solution:
Establish clear documentation procedures and utilize templates to ensure consistency and accuracy. Implement a document management system to track and manage all relevant documents.
Headache 3: Equipment Installation and Setup
Coordinating the movement, uncrating, and setup of new equipment can be a logistical nightmare. It’s essential to have a dedicated team to handle these tasks and ensure proper installation.
Solution:
Develop a detailed installation plan and assign clear responsibilities to team members. Utilize checklists to ensure all steps are completed correctly.
Headache 4: Vendor Management and Safety
Ensuring vendors comply with company protocols and safety regulations is critical. Failure to do so can put your lab and employees at risk.
Solution:
Develop a vendor onboarding process that includes safety training and compliance requirements. Conduct regular audits to ensure vendors are following procedures.
Headache 5: Equipment Maintenance and Calibration
Keeping track of equipment maintenance schedules and calibration dates can be daunting. Missed calibrations can lead to inaccurate results and costly downtime.
Solution:
Implement a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to track maintenance schedules, calibration dates, and equipment history. Set up automated reminders to ensure timely maintenance.
The Ultimate Cure: Dedicated Asset Management
While these solutions can help alleviate individual headaches, the key is having a dedicated asset management professional you can rely on to ensure all goes smoothly.
A dedicated asset manager can oversee all aspects of equipment management, from procurement to disposal. They can streamline processes, ensure compliance, and free up your time to focus on what you do best: science!
By addressing these asset management headaches, you can optimize your lab operations, reduce costs and downtime, and improve efficiency.
Our Asset Management Team can help. Managing scientific equipment throughout a capital project lifecycle is a complex and often overlooked job function. Our specialists can support minor equipment moves to full-design capital projects. We ease the burden on your internal team by translating scientific equipment needs into actionable design deliverables, ensuring your project assets are functional for an operational lab space on day one. Our services include A/E design and construction support; procurement, budgeting, and installation support; qualification protocols and validation services; move management; and asset onboarding via CMMS.