Routine management of lab automation equipment ensures laboratory experiments can be conducted proficiently without affecting their quality. Well-maintained pieces of equipment also ensure the experiment results are reliable and consistent. Most importantly, proper care prevents possible malfunctions and unnecessary repairs in the long run. Initially, maintenance costs of such equipment might seem very high but repairing and even replacement in some cases can be far more expensive for the lab.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) dictate how lab automation equipment should be maintained. SOPs are particularly useful for complex lab equipment, ensuring all the team members know how to maintain the equipment.
Accordingly, every laboratory should create SOPs with detailed equipment use and maintenance instructions. An effective SOP includes:
Just like SOPs, a preventive maintenance program is also essential to ensure all the equipment in the laboratory work with minimal interruptions, be it robotic arm automation or assembly automation equipment. In other words, a preventive maintenance program helps improve the product’s operational efficiency. It should usually include:
Training the management and technical staff is vital to avoid the malfunctioning of laboratory equipment.. The initial orientation session of the employees should involve induction training and demonstration, so the employees can get a basic sense of how to use the equipment safely.
However, over time, employees should be practically taught how to:
To amplify the training impact, all the employees can be evaluated on a scoring system to understand how well they know about dealing with the lab equipment.
It goes without saying that proper maintenance and care of lab equipment can ensure high performance of laboratories’ results and productivity and reduce maintenance costs in the long run. Therefore, laboratories should establish a robust maintenance plan and follow it. Looking for high-quality automation equipment and hardware? Contact Retisoft today and experience the region’s best laboratory products and services.