Quick Tips for Lab Productivity

You start your day in the lab by entering samples manually into a spreadsheet. You double check a few numbers, then walk over to your colleague to clarify a handwritten note. There are many samples waiting, and the backlog from yesterday still lingers. The instruments are fine, but the workflow feels… slow. Disconnected. And at the end of the day, when it’s time to report results, the pressure peaks.

This is a story many labs know too well.

Whether you’re part of a research team, a diagnostics lab, or a quality control group in industry, your goal is the same: get accurate results, quickly and efficiently. But small friction points in everyday tasks can quietly eat up hours and it may lead to delays, frustration, and missed opportunities.

The good news? You don’t always need a full overhaul. Sometimes, small changes create the biggest shift. Here are some quick tips for lab productivity: 

1. Let’s start with your workflows 

A foundational Lean principle is identifying and removing waste in workflows. Common lab inefficiencies include waiting for equipment, redundant sample handling, and unclear task ownership (NATA). By mapping current processes and pinpointing delays, labs can streamline operations. For instance, a pharmaceutical QC lab implementing Lean strategies achieved a 22% reduction in conversion costs and halved testing turnaround times, all without increasing headcount or equipment (Pharmaceutical Online).

2. Then, make the predictable parts even easier

Most labs rely on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), but not all SOPs are easy to follow or access. If every analyst has their own way of doing the same test or their own naming style for sample labels, it can lead to rework and mistakes.

Create a visual step by step for your most common procedures. Keep it on the bench. Standardised tools, layouts and naming conventions save time and reduce guesswork.

A diagnostics lab once set up a weekly meeting to review three simple metrics: number of samples received, average lead time, and incidents of rework. Within weeks, they were spotting patterns they hadn’t noticed before, like Mondays always being slower due to sample overload or one step consistently causing errors.

For example, QLIMS includes visual dashboards powered by Kibana that display turnaround times in real time. No more manual tracking with spreadsheets or whiteboards, just clear, live insights to help your team stay focused and responsive. 

4. Don’t forget about balancing the load

When some teams are overwhelmed while others are underutilised, productivity suffers. Smoothing out sample inflow and creating balanced schedules helps reduce stress and increases throughput. This concept, originally used in manufacturing, is now successfully applied in labs through workload leveling and rhythm-based planning.

Introduce a ‘sample intake calendar’ to visualise and balance incoming work. This allows lab managers to allocate resources more efficiently. 

Alternatively, if you’re using QLIMS, this becomes even easier. Right from the home page, you can view a live widget showing who is working on what, current worklists and another widget for outstanding samples. With this visibility, managers can instantly spot overloads or gaps and reassign tasks accordingly. 

5. Finally, the digital piece…

Many labs are still handling paper, disconnected spreadsheets, or shared folders. It works for a while. But as the volume grows, so does the risk: lost data, delayed reporting, repeated tasks. The point of digital tools isn’t just convenience, it’s clarity.

This is where a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) can quietly transform the day to day. A good LIMS replaces sticky notes, links results to samples automatically, tracks chain of custody, and keeps everything in one place, from sample management to reporting. 

It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start small. Even just digitising sample intake and chain of custody can reclaim hours each week.