E-News for August 2001
Greetings ALMA Members,
In past decades, managers paid little attention to the chemicals used in the lab beyond providing a safe storage location, basic safe handling instructions, and perhaps setting up an inventory system. It was common for laboratories to buy chemicals in bulk to save money and to gladly accept “free” samples from vendors for evaluation. Some lab managers continue to follow this model even though new environmental and hygiene standards make this approach risky and costly. Prudent management of chemicals for the laboratory now requires more manager attention and a more proactive system to protect the company and employee interests. The new philosophy requires reducing the volume of every chemical to the minimum necessary to achieve the goals for which it was acquired. Policies are needed to restrict “gifts” that can cost many times their value in disposal costs and to establish clear purchase guidelines to prevent stockpiling. Alternative arrangements such as leaving responsibility for storing and inventorying chemicals with the supplier should be pursued. American Chemical Society guidelines cite several advantages for maintaining minimum quantities such as reduced risk of breakage, reduced risk of exposure following an accident, reduced storage costs, reduced waste from decomposition during storage, and reduced disposal costs. Experience has shown that if a chemical has not been used in the past three years, it is unlikely to be used in the future and should be disposed of—the longer it sits on the shelf, the more expensive it is likely to be to get rid of it. A little time invested in setting up a good chemical management program can yield big dividends and avoid expensive headaches in the future.
Management philosophy over the past few years has stressed the importance of developing an “agile” organization that can quickly adapt to new situations. This requires staff members to show initiative, take reasonable risks, and accept responsibility for getting the job done. As management books like to say, “We want our employees to think and act like owners”. To promote these types of behaviors, lab managers need to help the staff to develop the business literacy to understand their role in the organization and to see the “big picture”. Some managers accomplish this by having monthly pizza lunches for the staff to discuss business conditions, company strategies, and the latest financial results. Another option is to hold meetings to review the company stockholder reports; this can be interesting for the staff if they are also investors through the 401(k) or other savings programs. Even simple exercises such as reviewing the process by which your laboratory budget was developed can be a learning experience for some. As managers, we are exposed to a stream of information that keeps us connected to the business—let’s remember to share this connection with our staffs.
If you have any comments, cost saving suggestions, opinions, etc. let me hear from you .
Wayne