For efficient laboratory work – Infraserv optimizes walking routes

Suboptimal walking routes in established existing laboratories

A laboratory is not a static space. In the course of its use, new equipment is purchased, other work processes are introduced and the laboratory space is extended. These evolved structures then dictate the typical routes that need to be used for a work process. And these are usually unnecessarily long. If a laboratory is used and changed over a longer period of time, its efficiency can drop significantly, at least when compared with an optimally planned laboratory. When modernizing a laboratory, it is therefore important to know the current work processes and equipment arrangements and at the same time be flexible enough to question them. Only by rethinking and restructuring can the available laboratory space be used optimally after modernization.

An experienced outside perspective can often be very helpful here, as it allows not only the company's own experience from specific work processes, but also the diverse expertise of a laboratory planner to be incorporated into the laboratory design.

Infraserv helps reorganize laboratory structure

As laboratory design experts, we at Infraserv Höchst have provided support for numerous new laboratory construction and remodeling projects and have therefore gained a great deal of experience in optimizing work processes and walkways.

We know from these projects that it is crucial to combine as much knowledge as possible when designing laboratories. Regardless of whether it is a new building or a conversion. This is the only way to get as close as possible to the optimum laboratory. That's why we first ask the laboratory operator to explain the workflows in the existing laboratory in detail and answer the following questions, for example:

• Which equipment is needed for which processes?
• What are the routes in the previous laboratory?
• Where have the processes been stuck so far?

We then use the knowledge gained to jointly develop ideas for the optimal redesign of the laboratory space, taking into account the laboratory guidelines.

By cleverly arranging equipment or advantageously combining processes in this way, workflows in the laboratory can become significantly more efficient. In one conversion project, for example, samples had to be moved from floor to floor by elevator. Thanks to clever optimization of the routes, the samples no longer have to change floors and the laboratory operator was able to save on the chemical elevator.

This not only saves costs during the conversion, but also makes daily work more efficient and more pleasant for the employees.