BSM Laboratory Benchmarking Survey

A. About Your Lab

1. Which of the following best describes your Industry or sector?

	Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
	Chemical Manufacturing
	Commercial / Sub-contract Testing
	Public Utility
	Hospital
	Other Medical
	Other (please specify)

2. Which of the following best describes your Lab?

________________________________________________________

B. Lab Organization / Resources

3. Please insert the relevant number in the corresponding box:

Number of FTEs (Full Time Equivalents) in Testing Roles	Please enter a valid number
Number of 'Non testing' Group Leaders, Supervisors & Managers	Please enter a valid number
Number of FTEs in other non-testing roles	Please enter a valid number
Number of separate Testing Groups or Sub-groups	Please enter a valid number
Number of FTEs dedicated to Test Documentation	Please enter a valid number

4. Which of the following apply in your lab (select all that apply)

	Analysts are organized by test
	Analysts are organized by sample type
	Analysts are organized by product
	Analysts are assigned individual daily or weekly workloads
	Available work is divided equally amongst available analysts
	Analysts are assigned defined, balanced roles based on leveled, short interval workloads

________________________________________________________

C. Lab Workloads

5. Please insert the correct figure in the corresponding box below:

Number of distinct sample types (requiring different testing)
Number of different test methods routinely performed in the Lab
Average number of samples per day
Average number of separate tests performed on each sample type

6. For your lab what is the approximate percentage of total workload for each of the following work streams (ignore % total figure):

	Routine Testing
	Non routine or investigative testing
	Routine non test tasks
	Non test projects
	Other (please specify)

0

7. Regarding Workload Volatility, please select the relevant box:

8. What is the Coefficient of variation of the incoming workload (if known)?

Daily
Weekly

9. Testing Process & Performance Management (select all that apply)

	Yes	No
We have a pre-defined sequence of tests for each sample type which is followed by every analyst
A supervisor or group leader establishes testing priorities on a daily or weekly basis
We have a 'fast track' process for urgent samples
Significant effort is expended in controlling, tracking and prioritizing samples
We have multiple sample queues and/or high volumes of 'work in progress'
We have short interval performance measures which are reviewed with analysts at least daily
We use visual management techniques to control the testing process
Significant effort is expended in test documentation and/or review and/or error correction

________________________________________________________

D. Operational Excellence / Continuous Improvement

10. What are the activity levels of your continuous improvment programmes? (select all that apply)

	Project(s) and or Kaizen events have been completed in the last 12 months
	We are currently engaged in an active project or projects
	We are planning a project within the next 12 months

11. For each best practice or tool please indicate the current level of competence in your lab

	Experienced Practitioners	Knowledge & Skills exist in house	Knowledge & Skills do not exist in house
General Lean Principles
Lean in the Lab
VSM (Value Stream Mapping)
Visual Management
Levelling / Heijunka
Flow & Pull
Standard work
Rhythm Wheels
Test Trains
Test Cells
DMAIC
Performance Management
5S
Real time review of documents

________________________________________________________

E. Software

12. Does your Lab use any of the following software types?

	LIMS
	Chromatography Data Management
	Investigations Management
	Document Management

________________________________________________________

F. Lab Performance

13. Please complete the following with regard to Key Performance Indicators (KPI's):

	Routinely Measured		Acutal or Estimated Performance	Trend Last Quarter
	Yes	No	Acutal or Estimated Performance	Trend Last Quarter
Testing % RFT	Yes	No
Documentation % RFT
% of Samples within Target Lead Time
Analyst / Lab Productivity

14. Please complete the following with regard to Lab Performance

	Target Lead Time in days or hours	Duration of longest individual test (including any mandatory incubation time)
Sample Type 1
Sample Type 2
Sample Type 3

15. Do you have any additional comments or questions?

________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive a copy of the survey results and final report, please insert your contact details below:

First Name

Last Name

Title

Company Name

Country

Email Address

	Raw Materials
	In-process Chemistry
	Final Product Chemistry
	Microbiology
	DNA Marker Lab
	General Hospital Lab
	Blood Lab
	Product Development
	Method Development /Validation
	Biotech
	Other (Please specify)

	Level	Somewhat Volatile	Volatile	Very Volatile
Short Interval Overall Workload is:
Short Interval Sample Mix is: