QC Lab Resource Planning

Challenges of manual QC Planning and Scheduling in Pharmaceutical Quality Control Laboratories

• QC labs are required to register information about all samples received in the lab by making manual entries in books, paper records or excel sheets from LIMS
• Difficult to manage and maintain scheduler or planner for allocation of resources within multiple sections in a lab where there is a high volume of samples or tests to be planned and several schedules to perform the actions
• QC labs are required to analyze different types of samples like Finished Goods, Raw materials, in-process, stability samples as well as environmental samples. The analysis must be carried out on the basis of demand and priority. Organizations may find it difficult to manage and create proper scheduling based on the availability of Equipment Instruments and Analyst’s availability, etc.
• Rescheduling the day or weekly work plan in some scenarios like re-test, re-samples and OOS is challenging
• Allocation of resources like an instrument for analyses, and identifying the analyst who must perform such actions is a major challenge to track down
• Organizations incur high operating costs because of uneven workloads on the workforce and improper planning.
• Slipping of schedule like adding a resource can bring the schedule back to its actual or original timeline. Making other adjustments like additions or removal of certain test cycles, and resources that impacts the delivery timelines can also be difficult
• There is no proper planning for some of the samples that are to be tested based on demand, and priorities.
• A lot of time and resources are used by the lab technicians, analysts, planners and schedulers to manually plan the tasks. This increases the total number of work hours for a task increasing operational costs.
• Generating the reports of analyses from different instruments like HPLC and where analysts have to report the delays that are taking place during the process. i.e, delayed availability of the equipment or instruments for the analyst, or calibration issues, or waiting for analysts or technicians during the group of test samples.
• Managing Equipment and analysts during OOS is a concern for many organizations. There are several instances in companies where analysts may end up using non-calibrated instruments for analysis because they are unable to identify calibrated and non-calibrated instruments from a group or list of instruments.
• All forms of manual entries and processes followed in an organization is prone to errors and inaccuracies. This can decrease the overall lab efficiency.

In order to avoid the complexity of scheduling, an ideal solution is required to minimize the time invested by the workforce in carrying out their tasks. It is also important to increase flexibility in processes allowing changes in schedules based on demand and optimizing the lab efficiency, performance in terms of test cycle times and on-time deliveries.

AmpleLogic “QC Planning and Scheduling” Software

AmpleLogic QC Planning and Scheduling Software is a web-based solution designed on LOW CODE  NO CODE APP (LCNC DEVELOPMENT ) PLATFORM specifically for Quality Control and R&D Laboratories. It helps you to plan and schedule your resources, track the laboratory activities and generate user configurable reports for swift decision making. Features like resource scheduling, sample batching/ campaigning helps in moving towards lean QC lab practices.

AmpleLogic QC Planning and Scheduling Software is a solution for organizations that aim to improve lab efficiency by introducing automatic calculation of efficiency of every analyst by studying the completed samples or actual tests performed by them. This feature enables both analysts and management to track their individual performance and efficiency. It also provides with an overview of the reasons for delay, and for time consumption by the analyst. This QC Lab Planning Automation Software provides insight to identify whether the analyst requires additional training and list of challenging tests in the labs.

With the help of the Resource Planning and Scheduling Software a lab technician or an instrument can be blocked to analyze or investigate. This reduces the number of deviations or non-conformance for the organization.

AmpleLogic QC Lab Scheduling Solution will allow you to connect from anywhere any time. Ensures data integrity, regulatory compliance, and traceability. AmpleLogic QC Planning and Scheduling Software complies with FDA 21 CFR Part 11, MHRA, EU Annex 11 and other applicable regulatory standards.

QC Lab operations can be efficiently planned by automatically grouping all samples, creating short term and long term schedules constrained by lab resources.

Features of Quality Control Planning & Sample Scheduling Software

• Create and set a paperless lab scheduling and shift-based planning taking into account resource availability and TAT (Turn Around Time).
• AmpleLogic QC Lab Planning Solution helps in creating the short term and long term scheduling of tests.
• Provides accurate resource needs based on the organization’s unique requirements and accordingly creates or delivers a laboratory QC Plan with a single click.
• QC Samples Planning Software helps to generate automated campaigning or grouping of samples based on pre-defined criteria.
• Scenarios related to analysis of Finished Goods and stability can be treated as urgent and a separate test schedule can be created in this case. It can be done for any analysis which must be completed within a day
• The calendar will display daily, weekly, monthly or annual schedules for analysts across the laboratories.
• AmpleLogic QC Planning Solution has different color coding for which helps analysts identify the schedules according to criticality, delay or when they are overdue.
• AmpleLogic QC Lab Scheduling Software automatically sends emails and notifications to your analysts communicating crucial information related to the scheduled activities or escalations
• Automatic Lab Resource Planning and Scheduling delivers daily, weekly or monthly schedule which allows you to track a QC analyst or an instrument’s availability. The QC Planning System can automatically block the resources for the period of time that an OOS or a Root Cause (RC) analysis is underway in a laboratory by different analysts
• Organizations have a transparent and complete view of their lab performance and resource utilization according to the daily, weekly and monthly calendar along with easily customizable reports.
• Users can track reports of each employee or if the resource is assigned for optimal usage. Real-time data gives the overview of shortfall or excess of resource allocation. This helps users promptly address any problems related to resource allocation.
• The QC Lab Capacity Planning helps users view every task assigned to the analyst for completion. It also shows the amount of time spent in performing a test and the estimated duration for carrying out a test.
• Using the QC Samples Planning Software or QC Samples Scheduling Software, test activities can be automatically scheduled by checking for analyst’s availability, qualifications, and experience level. The system also accounts for the due date of the test along with critical path tests, batch size and its priority.
• Supports regulatory compliance by providing organizations with a complete audit trail which includes electronic signatures, email alerts and field level security.
• Gives QC planners instant real-time visibility of each team availability against the current work, unavailability, etc.
• Based on product grouping and campaigning we can group different samples to minimize the overall test time.
• Allows you to create customized reports and charts. Users also have the option of importing or exporting data to excel spreadsheets in order to conduct detailed analysis.
• QC Lab Equipment Utilization, Resource utilization, instrument or equipment usage and availability for allocation immediately visible in the weekly schedule with easily customizable reports.
• AmpleLogic QC Resource Planning Software will auto generate reports on weekly/monthly basis as well as infographic dashboards. Users can monitor key performance indicators (KPI’s) based on samples, completion of time and employee performance

Benefits of QC Planning and Scheduling Solution

• Adherence to the Sample TAT (Turn Around Time)
• AmpleLogic QC Planning application is simple user-friendly. It includes drag and drop feature, along with options to schedule and reschedule your daily lab activities and resources.
• By using QC Lab Planning automation you can able to manage, view and edit schedules from anywhere at any time and give employees instant access from any web-based browser.
• Single dashboard provides you to see and take appropriate action against all your job activities.
• AmpleLogic QC Sample Planning Software can easily integrated with different types of data sources including ERP, legacy system and other existing systems to help you build a cohesive environment for QC planning.
• Configure the solution to your specific or unique requirements when it comes to creating, planning and scheduling the activities.
• AmpleLogic QC Samples Scheduling software will automatically generate schedules tasks for any sample registered in LIMS system.
• Helps organizations in managing and optimizing their resources. This supports higher productivity and increases efficiency.
• This QC Planning and Scheduling Software provide clear prioritized schedule for the lab manager, qc manager and lab chemist and other analysts.
• Eliminate the need for maintaining paper records to increase lab efficiency and minimize errors and consolidate your data into a single repository, saving the time you lose in looking for information.
• End to End sample progress and activity progress can be tracked by QC Planning Software.
• Enhance communication and visibility for all departments and functions., It can reduce the emails, and phone calls between departments to learn about the status of samples.

AmpleLogic QC Planning and Scheduling Software will support the head of departments, managers, and supervisors in allocating the different tests required to release different samples to various analysts, based on critical, due date, work-load and other parameters

GMP Compliant QC Planning Software also complies with electronic Record standards defined by TGA, CDSCO, HEALTH CANADA, MCC, ANVISA, EMEA, SFDA, NAFDAC, MEDSAFE, MHLW, MCAZ, SWISSMEDIC, KFDA, and MoH.

Other industries that can benefit from our QC Lab Scheduling and Sample Tracking Software

• Biologics
• Medical Devices
• Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO)
• Chemical Industry
• Contract Manufacturing
• Generics
• General Manufacturing
• Contract Research Organization (CRO)
• Food & Beverages

To learn more about how AmpleLogic QC Planning and Scheduling Software can help Life sciences and Pharmaceutical QC Labs and R&D Labs  to increase their on-time delivery and lab efficiency, please contact us