The Benefits of using RFID in Lab Equipment Tracking and Inventory

Laboratories, whether in the private or public sector, invest millions of dollars in equipment to achieve their objectives, and laboratory management and finance departments have a vested interest in knowing whether their inventory is accurate and if their equipment’s whereabouts are known.

Accurate lab equipment tracking is essential to save valuable time that may be wasted looking for equipment, and it helps lab managers stay informed about which team is using which lab equipment and its status.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss the challenges in tracking lab equipment, uses and benefits of using RFID in lab equipment tracking and inventory.

Challenges in Tracking Lab Equipment

Large Quantity of Equipment

In a laboratory, there is typically a large quantity of equipment that needs to be tracked. With hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces of equipment to keep track of, it’s easy for items to get lost or misplaced. This can include everything from microscopes and centrifuges to test tubes and pipettes. Keeping track of all this equipment can be a significant challenge.

Equipment Mobility

Lab equipment is often moved around the lab or taken to other locations for experiments, testing or calibration. This can make it difficult to keep track of equipment and ensure that it is returned to the correct location.

Manual Tracking Processes

Many labs still rely on manual tracking processes, such as sign-out sheets or spreadsheets. These processes can be time-consuming and prone to errors, making it difficult to accurately track equipment.

Adherence to Regulatory Compliance

Lab managers must adhere to regulatory compliances to ensure product integrity in all industries, especially medical or pharmaceutical. Proper instrument calibration in a timely manner is a crucial aspect of this process. Calibration certificates are mandatory documents that are referred to before producing pharmaceutical products. Keeping track of calibration certificates and due-dates manually is prone to human error.

RFID Lab Equipment Tracking Software

AssetPulse’s RFID laboratory equipment tracking software helps automate lab equipment tracking, perform accurate inventory audits, and ensure that regulatory compliance is maintained, including proper instrument calibration, which is essential in industries such as medical and pharmaceuticals.

AssetPulse’s RFID laboratory asset tracking software can help engineers, scientists, and technicians save valuable time searching for equipment or prototypes.

Uses of RFID Technology in Lab Equipment Tracking

Automatic Tracking

RFID technology allows for automatic tracking of equipment. As equipment moves around the lab, RFID readers can detect the tagged assets and record their location. This makes it easy to keep track of equipment without requiring manual intervention.

Locating Equipment

With RFID technology, it’s easy to locate equipment within the lab. Using the Geiger Counter feature of handheld RFID readers, equipment can be quickly located, resulting in huge time savings.

Equipment removed without permission

RFID technology can also help detect equipment being moved without permission. If equipment is moved outside of the lab without prior notice, RFID readers can detect this and alert lab personnel.

Benefits of using RFID Technology in Lab Equipment Tracking

Time-Savings

RFID technology can save time by automating the tracking process. This frees up lab personnel to focus on other high priority tasks.

Accuracy

RFID technology is highly accurate, making it easy to keep track of equipment and ensure that it is in the correct location.

Real-Time Alerts

Get real-time alerts and notifications on upcoming preventive maintenance and calibration, equipment lease expiry, etc.

Cost-Effective

While implementing RFID technology may require an initial investment, it can ultimately be cost-effective by reducing the amount of lost or misplaced equipment and the time required to manually track equipment.

In conclusion, tracking lab equipment can be a significant challenge, but RFID technology can help automate lab equipment tracking, locate equipment, and prevent unauthorized movement.

Its time-savings, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness, make it an attractive option for labs looking to improve their equipment tracking processes.