Are you looking for practical lab equipment maintenance tips? This article shares tips that you can apply today. Maintaining lab equipment comes with many benefits, such as improved productivity. So, which are these tips? Let’s find out.
Benefits of maintaining your lab equipment ● Reduced downtime Unexpected downtimes from equipment breakdown can cause a project to derail and damage research samples. Not completing a requirement can be expensive in an industry where valuable data is at risk. Downtimes can impair your laboratory’s productivity, meaning there’ll be a loss of revenue, hence reduced profit margins. Regular lab equipment maintenance will minimize downtime, and one can identify problems before they occur. ● Reduced repair costs While it is prudent to perform equipment repairs occasionally, regular maintenance can reduce the scale and scope of repairs. Besides, it can provide a detailed record of your equipment’s performance history and future needs. As such, you can make an informed decision about whether to repair or replace your equipment. ● Improved lab productivity Keeping your lab instruments in the best shape will help you concentrate on crucial lab tasks such as running experiments. Your lab team won’t have to worry about the condition and performance of the instruments. It also enables the troubleshooting team to identify issues before they cause significant problems proactively. ● Improved lab equipment longevity Another benefit of maintaining your instruments is that they will serve you for an extended period. And this can reduce costs significantly since you won’t require regular repairs and replacements. ● Increased access to resources It is especially beneficial if you collaborate with a lab maintenance contractor. You’ll have their expertise, knowledge, network, and tools at your disposal. While not an exhaustive list, these are some of the benefits of lab equipment maintenance. Biotech Services is a lab equipment maintenance contractor that can help improve your lab’s efficiency and productivity. Contact us today to place a service request. Lab maintenance tips for manufacturers and owners of lab equipment Now that you know the benefits of proper lab equipment maintenance let’s look at tips to achieve this. ● Follow equipment manuals and operation protocols As you’d expect, lab equipment are manufactured for specific roles. Using them for procedures beyond their capabilities can cause damage, significantly, when misused for extended periods. To avoid such scenarios, you should read and follow the accompanying manuals. Ensure to check their capacities and features. If you are using digital lab equipment, get well-versed with the various danger and warning symbols on the screen. It can help you identify when the equipment malfunctions or is not in the proper operational condition. Likewise, you need to follow operation protocols to avoid overstepping the scope and function of the equipment at hand. For example, if an instrument is susceptible to overheating, allow sufficient time to cool to prevent damage. Ensure your lab staff undergoes thorough training to use the equipment efficiently and follow the operation protocols seamlessly. Damage caused by inappropriate equipment use might void the warranty, forcing you to buy new ones. ● Routine decontamination and preventive maintenance Ideally, most lab equipment are susceptible to tear and wear, which affects their efficiency. And in a lab setting, equipment must be in excellent condition to provide accurate and reliable results. Keeping these equipment clean and well-maintained helps prevent malfunction resulting in error-free experiment results. Taking such measures can also bolster the lab equipment’s longevity. The best part? Cleaning and decontaminating lab equipment after use does not need the input of a third-party service provider. Here are different ways to decontaminate lab equipment:
● Calibrate your equipment regularly Equipment calibration ensures your instruments are working correctly. It can be done by configuring it with another tool. Well-calibrated equipment should have results within the acceptable accuracy range. You can also use standard values to ascertain the equipment’s accuracy. The result should be within acceptable standards and traceable to protocols from major agencies such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The calibration frequency is also crucial. You can consult the equipment manufacturer to follow the pre-set schedule. However, you should be able to calibrate them when you notice inconsistent accuracy. Some of the popular calibration methods are:
● Evaluate the equipment’s performance Another crucial lab equipment maintenance tip is occasionally evaluating your equipment’s performance. It helps bolster performance and identify system and hardware issues. With efficient lab equipment, you can increase your lab’s productivity. Some of the performance metrics you can use during evaluation include:
To predict when the equipment will fail, you need to perform interval analysis, which allows you to document the occurrence of equipment failure. It, therefore, enables you to develop strategies to prolong the intervals. ● Refurbishing lab equipment Another cost-effective lab equipment maintenance tip is to refurbish your instruments. It helps you bring old equipment back to life, improving efficiency and accuracy. Instead of buying new equipment, you can replace some old components with more recent and more robust parts. Refurbishing your lab equipment can also entail disassembling equipment parts and cleaning and lubricating them thoroughly. You can also recalibrate precision parts and replace faulty components. In the end, you’ll have a more efficient and effective lab instrument. ● Maintaining a conducive lab environment A conducive lab environment improves your staff’s morale and helps maintain well-functioning lab equipment. Storing your equipment prevents breakage due to poor handling and accidents due to chemical spills. Besides, having a clean lab can help improve results accuracy. Having unclean instruments can contaminate samples leading to inaccurate results and false measurements. Having a well-kept laboratory will also improve workplace efficiency and productivity. Ending Takeaway As you can see, maintaining lab equipment as a lab owner or manufacturer is as easy as following the above tips. If you want professional lab equipment maintenance, you can reach us via our contact channels. Original Source - www.biotechserv.com/lab-maintenance-tips-for-manufacturers-and-owners-of-lab-equipment/
0 Comments
To ensure accurate and reliable test results, your lab equipment in Los Angeles must be of high quality. This article looks at some of the best practices you can employ today to improve your lab’s reputation. Let’s dive in.
1. Read and Understand the Manual Before using any lab equipment, ensure to read the manual. While it might not be available directly, referring to the manufacturer’s website can help. Alternatively, you can contact the manufacturer directly. Besides, we’d advise compiling a list of manuals. It is crucial since it can help you during training or troubleshooting. Benefits of Reading a Manual
2. Get Trained As you’d expect, training is the best way to work with lab equipment. Besides, using an instrument you are a novice with is the surest way to damage it. If possible, get trained before purchasing the tool. That way, you’ll understand how it works even before it is in the lab. 3. Get Your Staff Trained To avoid periodic lab equipment damage, you must train your lab personnel. You should also train personnel from outside who regularly use your equipment. Benefits of Training
Besides, cross-training your team will prevent financial disasters such as closing a lab section. There’ll also be fewer lab disasters, saving on the loss of samples and repair bills.
4. Calibrate Your Equipment Calibrating lab equipment in Los Angeles is a must-do activity. It helps prevent inaccurate results, penalties and fines from relevant bodies. For example, you should calibrate thermometers and pipettes at least twice a year. Calibrating once in three months can be beneficial if you use them regularly. To ensure precise lab equipment calibration:
Benefits of Calibration
5. Decontaminate Equipment After Use Decontaminating lab equipment in Los Angeles prevents contamination of samples. As you’d guess, contaminated equipment can lead to inaccurate results. It can lead to the production of drugs or food products that are harmful to human consumption. As such, you should ensure they are cleaned after every use. Some of the decontamination procedures include:
Benefits of Decontamination
6. Upgrade Your Lab Equipment One mistake most labs in Los Angeles make is making their lab equipment last as long as possible. While this might seem cost-effective, it is far from the truth. Regular repairs and maintenance might cost them more than buying new equipment. Benefits of Upgrading Your Lab Equipment in Los Angeles
7. Use a 3D Printer to Build Lab Equipment Thanks to the advent of technology, you can use a 3D printer to build your lab equipment. Thanks to the free instructions and blueprints available in open-source platforms such as GitHub, it is easy to use. The printer allows you to customize shapes and sizes to build equipment that meets specific needs. You can use it to create life-like organs, replica rocks, heavy metal, and equipment on the go. Benefits of Using 3D Printing
Final Thoughts As you can see, there are various ways to maintain quality lab equipment. And most are straightforward and cost-effective. Remember, upgrading your lab equipment is better than constantly repairing outdated ones. So, to know more about maintaining quality lab equipment in Los Angeles, call us today. Original blog posted here – www.biotechserv.com/best-practices-to-maintain-the-quality-of-your-lab-equipment/ |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
November 2022
Categories |