The QC lab – Connecting the digital landscape
20 Dec 2021
There is an almost universal need to combat the growing complexity of disjointed quality control ecosystems that have sprung up in laboratories as a result of previously limited technological solutions. Now, Jason Boyd reimagines quality by design for today’s agile digital laboratory
Designing a unified, agile digital lab will drive greater efficiency and faster time to market.
Many quality control (QC) digital projects have been funded to improve the user experience and increase near-term return on investment. Lab managers, with limited dedicated work time for servicing their portfolio of initiatives, have tended to adopt point solutions that digitise specific areas. However, this approach fails to provide a systemic view, can create information silos, and delivers complex ecosystems which demand greater investment around implementation and customisation. This pathway will, therefore, ultimately lead to an elevated total cost of ownership.
The QC lab has been slowed by a lack of technology innovation and the proliferation of stand-alone solutions. As a result, current lab workflows are often disconnected and ill-prepared to keep up with changing business needs. It is time for QC leaders to reimagine their approach to quality and adopt strategies and solutions that enable an agile digital laboratory.
Digital is just the start
There is an industry-wide drive for more efficient quality operations. Quality Control leaders looking to start on the path toward transformation should map out their ideal capabilities from document management to quality verification from the outset. Next, explore digital technologies that enable a more connected landscape across quality operations. Here is what should be considered to design a lab for agility and scale:
- Evaluate connected capabilities to bring together quality assurance (QA), training, change control, and QC for more efficient execution
- Automate quality processes to remove busywork from your people
- Enable access to documents and supporting data to simplify entry, review, and approval
- Identify systems that can easily integrate with your resource planning and lab equipment
Providing QC operations personnel with a simple and intuitive platform to get information, complete training, and execute workflows is the goal. If your teams can access data across their functional areas, less time will be spent on administrative tasks, and the focus shifts to value-added activities. Designing a unified, agile digital lab will drive greater efficiency and faster time to market. In the end, the improvements help advance patient health by accelerating the delivery of life-changing products to the people who need them.
Author: Jason Boyd is Senior Director, Vault Strategy at Veeva Systems veeva.com
