The single most effective strategy to save expenses and increase productivity is to use it, even if it is easily overlooked. It doesn’t matter how big or small your lab is, keeping track of inventory is critical to making it work properly.
Consumable supplies, reagents, lab equipment, and instruments may be a daunting chore. However, if this is done correctly, productivity will rise, and expenses will fall. With a few essential, but imaginative ideas, your lab’s budget may be stretched further, and efficiency can be improved.
Put Yourself in the Driver’s Seat
Setting a foundation is vital, whether you’re beginning a whole new lab or trying to streamline the inventory process. Whichever option you choose, be sure to include everything. This is the first time you’ll be taking stock. Essential things and those that aren’t may now be weighed against each other.
Analyze the reductions and increases in stocking
You have completed your list, so you can now analyze what you need more and what you need a lot of. You should think about every facet of your everyday routine when doing this. Which goods are most often used?
On a weekly or monthly basis, how many are used? How many times have you ordered these things in the last six months? Is there a need for more stock in your existing project?
Have you ever had to throw away supplies that reached their expiration date? A plan of action will begin to form once you answer these questions. Take notes, so you have a reference point to go back to.
It’s time to put everything we’ve learned into action. Keep track of the goods you’ll continue to use by creating a new list in the mobile app for healthcare. Flutter Agency is a leading healthcare app development company with years of experience delivering mHealth care applications for various customers with strong motives of delivering high-quality work with on-time delivery. It’s essential to know how much you’ll have on hand. This is the point at which you’ll have to re-order. When the supply drops below this level, it’s time to order again.
Assigned Inventory Locations
The location of your lab’s stocking levels should be considered early on in the planning process. A well-thought-out strategy may make your laboratory run more smoothly. For example, all supplies should be kept in a location where they can be safely stored and easily accessed.
Products with similar expiry dates may be grouped, as many things are often used. Organizing inventory by frequency of use, expiry date, and kind produces a system that is easier to retrieve from and re-stock, making it more efficient.
Using a barcode system
You may designate a barcode position to a specific shelf or region of your storage facility. Barcodes may be attached to products and read at the relevant places when stocking supply orders. Stocking levels are immediately updated whenever an item is withdrawn from inventory.
An easy-to-use tool helps you track your supply levels and locations. Although automation may save money and time, it isn’t always essential. A simple hand-written map may show the arrangement of the stockroom and the items it contains.
As supplies are utilized, keeping a spreadsheet online that allows you to add and delete them manually is helpful. Despite the ease of automation, sometimes nothing beats a good old-fashioned pencil and paper.
Use Pricing as a Tool
Having calculated you’re stocking levels, it’s time to order! Purchasing lab supplies in bulk might help you negotiate lower prices with lab supply vendors.
Contact them directly to inquire about bulk pricing reductions and other programs that may save money. You may free up space in your laboratory with standing orders since the supplier will take care of the order fulfillment.
Do not be deterred by tiny package sizes and amounts. Request case quantities from the vendor by phoning them and asking a few questions.
To fulfill your needs, many suppliers will cheerfully put together a bespoke order size for you. Remember that requesting information might save you a lot of money in the long run. Leverage your purchasing power to stretch your budget even further.
Routines for the Upkeep of Industrial Equipment
Though not often included in lab inventories, this is an important consideration. Make servicing and calibration of lab equipment a component of your inventory management.
The manufacturer’s recommended service schedule should be followed for each piece of equipment. Keep a copy of the checklist in the area where your equipment is housed to keep track of your inventory.
Records should be kept
You need to keep an eye on your lab’s supplies and everything else. Running a successful laboratory relies heavily on keeping accurate records and guaranteeing secure preservation. Keep every receipt you get!
You should save a digital copy of each invoice and store it in the lab software you use or even on an external hard disk. A physical copy should also be maintained on hand. Protect your essential papers with a fire-proof file cabinet. Even if you don’t need a lock, having one is a good idea.
Assign Tasks to the Team
To increase the likelihood of success, it’s a good idea to divide the work among the team members. So, one lab worker may handle stocking new orders, while the other would keep track of stock levels, for example. Equipment servicing schedules might be delegated to other members of your team.
Tell everyone what you want to accomplish with the new system, your top goals, who will be responsible for what, and what steps you plan to take to ensure success.
Team members should clearly understand the objective and how to get there. One of the most excellent methods to ensure that your lab inventory management system functions well is to have everyone on the same page.
You can see everything at a glance with an audit. As a bonus, it is an excellent tool for maintaining transparency among your team members. Even if you outsource every aspect of inventory management, you’ll never know how successful the efforts are until you do a thorough follow-up.
Conclusion
The needs of a laboratory vary from one to the next. No matter how much inventory a company has, there is always room for improvement and better inventory management.
