Lab scheduling software schedules three things that share one week: the bench hours against the tests the samples need, the analysts against the queue, and the instruments against their bookings and their calibration. Laboratory scheduling software that schedules one of the three has scheduled a calendar; a lab scheduler that knows the tests each sample needs schedules the week; equipment scheduling that knows the calibration dates keeps the instruments from being booked on the day they are out. This page is about the three schedules as one record, and the free sample intake and turnaround sheet on this site works the figure that decides whether the week fits, the bench utilization, from the lab's own numbers with no account.
Laboratory scheduling software: bench hours against tests
Samples times tests times minutes is the analyst hours the week needs; analysts times bench hours is what it has; the ratio is the utilization and the difference is the room. 120 samples at three tests and 20 minutes is 120 hours against 150 on the worked example, 80% and 30 spare hours, from the intake sheet on this site. A scheduler that shows that figure before the week starts is doing the job.
The lab scheduler: analysts against the queue
The queue is the samples in testing and awaiting review; the lab scheduler assigns them to the analysts with the method and the instrument they need, and the review load, 20 hours against 24 on the worked example, is the reviewer's schedule. Both are figures the record produces once the states carry dates.
Equipment scheduling with calibration in it
An instrument's calendar has bookings and calibration events; equipment scheduling that keeps the second inside the first never books a sample onto an instrument that is out. The calibration sheet on this site works the events, 48 a year across 12 instruments on the worked example. Limslane Pro keeps the samples, the queue and the instruments' calibration at one flat price.
Questions people ask about lab scheduling software
What should lab scheduling software schedule?
Bench hours against the tests the samples need, analysts against the queue, and instruments against bookings and calibration, as one record.
How do I know if the week fits?
Work the intake sheet: tests times minutes against analysts times bench hours; 80% utilization and 30 spare hours on the worked example.
Does equipment scheduling need the calibration dates?
Yes; a booking on an out-of-calibration instrument is a result in question. The free calibration sheet works the schedule's cost.