We Need an Asset Manager. How Do I Present This to Upper Management?

Laboratory operations have often developed ingrained ways of dealing with repairs, maintenance, and the management of its assets. If done internally, the burden often falls on facilities personnel, lab management or end users who usually do not have the skills, availability, or expertise to properly maintain the laboratory’s assets.

This approach usually results in critically overlooked maintenance activities, inconsistent coordination and monitoring of routine maintenance and qualification schedules and a lack of focus on the scientific mission of the laboratory.

A qualified asset management specialist as part of its unique value proposition (UVP) should be able to offer a laboratory operational profile analysis, free of charge. This helps explain cost savings and operational efficiencies, so you can present a solid case to upper management as to the benefits of an asset managed maintenance program for the laboratory.

Is Managed Maintenance Appropriate for a Lab My Size?

Regardless of the size, the mechanics of managing assets are the same. Any lab can benefit from outsourcing the asset management services to a lab asset specialist with programs specifically designed in cost scaling, specific to where the laboratory is in its life cycle. This model leaves the instrument maintenance in the hands of trained specialists, while you focus on the important responsibility of keeping the lab running.

How Does an Asset Manager Integrate into My Operation?

An asset manager specialist is focused on the instruments and scientific equipment in the lab. Responsibility for the facilities of the laboratory is already a full-time job. A qualified asset manager will partner in conjunction with the facilities department and will take the burden of “everything after the plug” off the plate of facilities staff.

Relevant instrumentation experience, ability to effectively communicate “cross silo” within laboratory groups and business units and a comprehensive, harmonized understanding of how the laboratory operates will allow you, as the lab operations manager, to concentrate on your normal day-to-day activities without having the undue stress of maintaining instrumentation.

How Are the Savings in an Asset Management Program Determined and What Are the Typical Cost Savings?

There are several categories of cost savings in a properly executed asset management program. These include reduction or elimination of diverted personnel costs of managing assets, and proper vendor selection and negotiation of service contracts and instrumentation acquisitions, resulting in improved maintenance efficiency and increased productivity of non-diverted laboratory and management personnel.

Cost savings can be determined by a comprehensive laboratory operational profile study conducted by a qualified laboratory asset specialist. Savings on asset maintenance costs are typically in the range of 15-25% for laboratories with comprehensive asset management programs.