Project Details:

Using process mapping to support (analytical) laboratory processe

To utilize process mapping for understanding, controlling and documenting laboratory activities.

Process mapping should further allow for identification of all steps in laboratory work, including roles of all stakeholders. With this it will be possible to identify critical points in the processes and interactions between them. Use of process mapping will be used to describe and fully understand (analytical) laboratory processes, with the aim to support continual improvement and efficiency gain. For effective process monitoring software should be developed as a supporting tool. Such software should then be used in a single a laboratory or in networks.

Process mapping is a technique to graphically map and represent all steps of a complete system that form strings and/or networks of individual processes. The main purpose to apply process mapping in any complex activity is (1) to provide a common vision of the entire system and connectivity of its components, and to (2) emphasize any problem areas and opportunities that can be defined.

Since process mapping is suitable for complex and connected procedures, it can be used to analyze, optimize and troubleshoot (with use of graphical mapping tools) any laboratory processes, from sample reception and analytical procedure, to quality testing and reporting. The preliminary step to map a process is to collect information about all complex processes and see how well each process functions. It helps to identify risks and potential errors at each step. The process mapping itself will use these information to clarify specific role and contribution of each process participant. This tool any laboratory, irrespective if the quality standards are already implemented (accredited laboratories) or not (not-accredited laboratories). It is important to realize that process mapping does not substitute for any international quality standards within e.g. ISO 1025, ISO Guide 34, GLP, etc. that are widely recognized as one of the pillars supporting inter- and intra regional trade and consumer safety and complied by accredited laboratories. It is a step towards improving of the laboratory management by unifying view of the entire process and allowing for reengineering in management approach.

Creating a process map of all laboratory processes engaged is a milestone (Milestone 1) for development/upgrade of the dedicated and optimized Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) (Milestone 2). This allows implementation of the fully-fledged interactive research and management platform providing efficient and quality-assured tools for defining, assigning and reserving tasks and activities, for monitoring progress to task-, data- and report-levels at all stages, and for assuring the quality of measurement results and data, as well as identifying opportunities for continual improvement.

Sept 2011 - project announcement published in Chem. Int. Sep-Oct 2011, p. 22

• Malek, Massoud

• De Zorzi, Paolo
• Fajgelj, Ales
• Slawkinska, Anna