Delivering laboratory service

Phillip Fairhurst explains the necessity of single solutions for an efficient future.

With laboratory equipment and scientific resources ranking as the highest value asset to the scientific industry, deploying a responsible and cost effective management system is proven to deliver significant gains in both cost efficiencies and improved utilisation of equipment by scientists within the laboratory. Traditional solutions tend to be costly; inhibit efficiency and are inherently service fragmented.

Seeing the positive benefits in bringing a single solution to its clients, share best practices and deliver innovation, Sodexo launched its Pharmaceutical Division - not simply focused on chromatography repair, it is a solution that has been supplying a range of scientific support services since 2003. 

Sodexo have built a strong, dedicated team of experts focused on delivering laboratory instrument support and other laboratory service activities. They have applied a fresh approach to a long-term problem. Further innovation of these services allows the group to continue its growth into new areas of scientific support having a proven and positive impact on their clients business. 

The results speak for themselves: commercial savings of 25-40 percent; improved instrument uptime from two days to within four hours *(fixed); and a complete laboratory solution, from lab auxiliary through technician up to competent engineers fixing scientific assets.

Sodexo’s heritage is built on the staff they attract and retain. They have successfully managed the transfer of thousands of employees who continue to thrive and develop in their organisation. This brings continued development for their people, which consequently improve clients operations.

The laboratory services solution managed by a central team comprises of dedicated engineers delivering instrument services within the labs; an administration team and systems to simplify and challenge the processes; commercial experts to negotiate the best possible terms and meet regulatory compliance; and dedicated health and safety quality teams accredited to ISO9001:2000 standard to advise on best practice and audit.

Their laboratory service solution is designed not to be a one-off but one that can be built into management processes for the future. R&D labs and manufacturing operations alike are constantly being improved and updated to meet rapid advances in technology.

As one client explains, “Knowing that a team of competent staff who understand our science, equipment and business are at hand and able to react quickly and appropriately to our issues really helps. This is both on a proactive way for planned services and highly reactive way for those unplanned downtime, this really helps us focus on what we do best – the science.”

The new process ensures that the lab user spends less time preparing the systems. An on-site labour and parts cache ensures faster response to the end user needs whether this is glass wash, consumable replenishment, sample despatch, instrument set-up, calibration or repair. Each request is attended to by a technical expert within two hours. For instrument support typically 80 percent of the average laboratory equipment being fixed within fours hours by Sodexo self delivered technical engineers.

Sodexo’s expertise in the consolidation of laboratory support for its clients comes in to play by reducing the customers overall management costs, employing its integrated facilities management tool to streamline administrative resources. Sodexo can identify and re-deploy existing surplus assets via Sodexo asset management teams across the clients business resulting in reduced capital expenditure sharing capital investment among various labs.

Working with its pharmaceutical clients has enabled Sodexo to develop a laboratory service that can be applied to any lab operation where chromatography, spectroscopy or automation systems are in use. Sodexo has the expertise to provide a comprehensive multi-site laboratory service and is keen to continue to identify new clients that will benefit.

Philip Fairhurst joined Sodexo from Agilent Technologies in January 2006, as the Business Development Manager for Laboratory Services. His responsibilities to the Pharmaceutical Division focus on the engagement of lab support services to the Pharmaceutical industry and assisting Sodexo’s clients in achieving their quality and financial goals.