If what gets measured gets managed, lab managers have a viable opportunity to capitalize on the utilization data of critical assets across their facilities. Asset utilization is a key performance indicator that conveys how effectively and efficiently an organization uses its equipment.  

In complex, resource-intensive industries like life sciences, the urgency of improving asset utilization rates cannot be overstated. This is crucial for lab managers to streamline operations, mitigate research delays, and promote productivity. By maximizing resource efficiency and reducing costs, this can ultimately drive revenue and profitability. The current average asset utilization rate of 35 percent serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for immediate action.  

Despite technological advancements, many laboratories still employ manual procedures, documenting utilization metrics through word of mouth in logbooks or spreadsheets. However, manual methods are time-consuming , ambiguous, and error-prone - dissolving productivity for lab managers and researchers who could focus on more value-adding priorities.  

The good news is that lab managers have a powerful solution at their disposal – asset utilization monitoring powered by the Internet of Things (IoT). This automated, data-backed system provides real-time transparency into when, where, and how often instruments are being used in the laboratory. It directly ties into variables like throughput, cycle time, maintenance, inventory management, and sustainability initiatives, offering a comprehensive solution to the challenges of manual tracking.  

Here’s how.  

How Does Utilization Monitoring Work?

Ensuring laboratories have the right quantity, mix, and allocation of assets is fundamental yet challenging without automated solutions. Sensor-enabled devices can detect diverse usage indicators, enabling lab managers to track and monitor utilization across a wide range of assets, from stationary workbenches to complex machinery.

For example, privacy-centric presence sensors affixed to laboratory workbenches or stationary equipment, like biosafety cabinets, laminar flow hoods, and fume hoods, measure the frequency and duration of use based on dwell time. For assets with motors, such as centrifuges, orbital shakers, and plate washers, vibration sensors infer utilization based on movement when in use. Sensors can also gauge utilization by monitoring lid or door open/close activity to illustrate usage patterns. Power monitoring is another way to collect utilization data, leveraging devices like current transformer (CT) clamps and smart plugs to measuring energy usage for assets that use wired power .

IoT-enabled asset utilization monitoring leverages dynamic sensors empowering lab managers with comprehensive visibility to optimize resource allocation, ensure efficient laboratory operations, and inform decision making.

Right-Size, Optimize, and Simplify Inventory Management

IoT utilization data allows lab managers to identify telltale patterns in supply, demand, equipment distribution, and imbalances across laboratories. By recognizing underused assets, they can be strategically redeployed where needed, freeing up lab space, eschewing needless repurchases and promoting cost savings. Excess inventory can be decommissioned, recouping funds for reallocation to other priorities. Additionally, canceling service contracts for surplus instruments further enhances cost savings.  

Detecting overutilization is equally important. Utilization monitoring provides real-time and historical data transparency needed to eliminate bottlenecks while ensuring capacity, asset efficiency, optimal cycle times, and consistent throughput. Key usage indicators also illuminate process gaps and potential failure points in workflows, empowering lab managers to unravel the root causes of problems - improving troubleshooting while fortifying productivity.  

For context, consider a laboratory with centrifuges located on workbenches - some placed on the left and some on the right-hand side of the workbenches. Utilization data showed that centrifuges located on one side were being used more frequently, because scientists typically conduct work from left to right. Based on the utilization trends, they moved all centrifuges on the left-hand side to the right for more consistent use – enabling better capacity, asset efficiency, and consistent throughput.  

Adopting a proactive approach to inventory planning is key for lab managers. It allows them to justify purchase requests with real-world data, speeding up approval processes and optimizing capital and operational expenses. This visibility into the asset lifecycle – from planning to procurement, maintenance, and disposal –improves decision-making and purchasing power. It also enables lab managers to determine from the outset if more high-demand assets are needed to satisfy production needs, critical to avoid impulsive decision-making.

Optimizing Maintenance Schedules and Service Contracts

Maximizing employee time is essential in life sciences, where the availability and usage of mission-critical resources drives ROI and expedites research and development. Equipment should function optimally at all times, yet one study shows that lab managers ranked instrument maintenance and downtime as their top challenge, also ranking planned and unplanned downtime as two of the top five factors limiting productivity.  

Utilization data helps lab managers enhance maintenance schedules and service contracts by switching to usage-based maintenance and calibration, a more practical, budget-friendly approach. This saves time and money by servicing assets based on needs rather than on a fixed schedule, while reducing downtime by keeping assets in service. And, a utilization monitoring solution can detect anomalies, bolstering proactive maintenance that ultimately extends the equipment lifecycle.

Promoting Energy Conservation and Reducing Environmental Impact

Life sciences companies are increasingly adopting more environmentally friendly practices. IoT utilization solutions promote sustainability by enabling targeted, efficient energy conservation. By monitoring lab equipment usage, energy consumption can be optimized by pinpointing periods of inactivity and implementing power-down protocols, significantly reducing energy use.

Actionable insights help optimize resource allocation and decrease demand for new equipment production or replacements – minimizing the environmental impact of equipment manufacturing, transportation, and disposal. Usage-based maintenance schedules further lower carbon emissions by reducing unnecessary technician visits. Further, utilization data helps extend asset lifespans, predict maintenance needs, and make informed decisions regarding upgrades and replacements, all contributing to sustainability by eliminating wasteful practices.  

MachineQ for Smart, Connected Laboratories

Contact MachineQ today to learn how IoT can transform your laboratory with powerful, data-backed automation, resulting in substantial cost savings, operational enhancements, and future flexibility.

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