Laboratory relocation is a Himalayan task! It requires a large amount of accurate planning and meticulous organization. In fact, if you think about it, you will realize that it entails three major stages:
- Pre-move preparation
- Final Preparation
- Actual move and post-move setup
You might feel that the last stage is the most draining, but that is only physically! You will invariably find that the pre-move planning and preparation is actually the toughest part!
In fact, there is a lot of homework to do beforehand! You need to find a functional new space, choose a safe mode of transportation for all the hazardous material, and then safely transport all samples! Thus it would not be a bad idea to recruit a project manager and an experienced team for this job. To further reduce tension and disruption, you could use the help of a relocation service provider.
As I mentioned earlier, the initial phase is the most important. You should get to work with the planning as soon as you decide to relocate. Instantly, start planning the budget and the exact timeline that you want the project to move on! You have to let the partners and shareholders know immediately if you plan such a big move, care of the logistics, and then start with the development of decommissioning and recommissioning protocols.
Experts in this field have said that it is better if the move is made when the previous laboratory is still functional. This will help in cutting costs and will prevent disruptions in important projects. So transportation can be done after work hours. The work that can be done with the samples still the previous lab might continue.
The equipment is most expensive and fragile and hence has to be handled with utmost care. They must be decommissioned, packaged and transported with great care. This is where the service provider comes in handy and helps you with these kinds of logistics. And the project manager must be malleable but not gullible. In case a few changes and adjustments are made, he must adapt and be on board.
The post-move period is hectic as you need to recommission instruments, get software loaded and look into the little things like temperature control, electricity, and water and gas connections needed for the lab.