Association of

Laboratory Managers

Workshops

Workshops

Registration

Welcome Reception

Continental Breakfast

Opening Remarks
Andy McFarland, ALMA President

Program Introduction
Karina Langseth-Manrique, Program Chair

Benchmarking—Theory, Tools Pros and Cons
Jim Baldes, Senior OE Consultant, Weyerhaeuser Company

• What Process Benchmarking is and is not.
• Differentiate between Process Benchmarking and other external information-gathering activities.
• The benchmarking process model.

Break and Corporate Displays

Lessons Learned from a Multi-Agency Laboratory Benchmarking Study
Lyn Faas, Regulatory Compliance Manager for Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle WA

This presentation describes the key findings of a benchmarking study conducted by nine wastewater utilities over a three-year period. Discussion includes both key findings from the study and lessons learned about the benchmarking process. Key findings include:

• Best practices in the areas of workload management, customer service, staffing strategies and employee development and morale;
• Factors associated with increasing efficiency and minimizing cost per test;
• Strategies to improve laboratory efficiency, flexibility and cost-effectiveness; and
• Tools to help laboratories improve customer service and employee morale.

Benchmarking—Is it Worth All the Fuzz or Just Another Buzzword?
Carl M Alexander, Laboratory Manager, E.I. Dupont de Nemours & Co., La Porte, TX

Networking Lunch

Why Chemometrics?
Barry Wise, President, Eigenvector Research, Inc., Manson, WA

Chemometric tools are becoming ubiquitous in analytical laboratories. Why? This talk explores the reasons for the slow but steady increase in the use of chemometric methods and the software packages that implement them. Some examples of chemometric triumphs are presented. Roadblocks to the further use of the tools is also discussed.

How to Implement Chemometrics in Your Laboratory—Competence, Motivation And Anchoring
Knut Dyrstad, Research Scientist Amersham Health AS, Oslo, Norway

Experience related to use and implementation of chemometrics in R&D and manufacturing will be presented. Important challengesduringinitialization of chemometrics in a scientificenvironment will be discussed, along with strategies to secure the long time beneficial use.

Break and Corporate Displays

Roundtable Discussions

• How can I as an analytical laboratory manager motivate my staff for a benchmarking process? Allocate needed time, get understanding, follow up.
  Moderator: Lyn Faas, Seattle Public Utilities
• Which activities within the analytical laboratory are the most feasible to outsource and why?
  Moderator: John Sadowski, APCI
• How can I as an analytical laboratory manager get the buying for outsourcing from my management?
  Moderator: Jim Hendershott, Ashland Inc.
• How can I as an analytical laboratory manager motivate and support my staff in using chemometrics without being an expert myself?
  Moderator: Knut Dyrstad, Amersham Health AS

Banquet

Forensic Analysis In The FBI
Speaker: Dr. Stephen Homeyer, Unit chief for R&D on forensics and bioterrorism at the FBI.

This talk will be an overview of FBI capabilities (DNA, trace. explosives) with examples taken from various cases.

Continental Breakfast

Business Meeting and Roundtable Discussion Summaries

Presentation of ALMA Distinguished Service Award for Laboratory Management to Dr. Claude A. Lucchesi

Outsourcing—Why, What, When, and How
Steve Gregory, COO Neolytica, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI

Over the last decade, numerous companies in a variety of industries have chosen to outsource some portions of their analytical testing services. The primary reasons companies enter into outsourcing relationships are to focus on core competencies, generate cost savings, leverage vendor expertise and concentrate on strategic growth initiatives. “Outsourcing—Why, What, When and How” discusses industry trends and presents the case for outsourcing. It also presents an outsourcing solution that enables customers to improve business performance through cost reduction, more efficient resource allocation and effective data management. Neolytica, a Web-enabled, single point of contact for outsourcing analytical testing services, has the capacity, expertise and tools to fulfill a broad range of outsourcing needs, including outsourcing of transactional analyses, problem-solving, consultative services and laboratory information management.

Break and Corporate Displays

Outsourcing Instrument Calibration and Maintenance—Agreements, Costs &Amp; Savings
Nils Finn Lumholdt, Director Operations, Ferrosan AS, Copenhagen, Denmark

This presentation will focus on the following:

• Why should companies small or big outsource maintenance/calibration even if they have own dedicated departments?
• QA agreements, what are they and what should they cover—and what are the gains?
• Outsourcing is a gain to the bottom line ? a gain for the company spirit? is it like hiring home service?
• Save costs and achieve knowledge, and save yourself a lot of problems/resources.

Outsourcing Analytical Work—Science or Art?
Dick Freedlander, Manager regulatory Chemistry, Cerexagri, Inc., King of Prussia, PA

Proper outsourcing of analytical work requires careful planning and consideration. Clear work plans, cost control, and proper communication provide the cornerstone for success. The responsible client contact should utilize the same supervisory skills that would be used if the work was being conducted in-house.

Closing Remarks