Über uns
Success Factors in Laboratory Building Planning
The 12 Key Questions Before the Planning Phase
In the case of new laboratory constructions or renovations, many builders take the opportunity to actively and positively shape the future and innovative capacity of their respective companies. Modern laboratory facilities attract new and highly skilled professionals.
Success Factors in the Planning of New and Renovated Laboratory Buildings
Well-thought-out workflows in the planning of laboratory spaces enhance the efficiency of research and development, which in turn reduces the costs of this complex process. However, to successfully implement such a project, it requires the appropriate expertise to overcome various obstacles. One of the most important and often overlooked phases in a laboratory project is therefore the user analysis, which should occur before the laboratory planning begins.
User Analysis in Laboratory Planning
In our projects, we consistently find that the users, i.e., the actual employees working in the laboratory, are often not asked about their needs sufficiently. Yet, it is they who need to work as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible in the lab. Large sums are often invested in new laboratory construction projects without a clear understanding of the activities that will be performed there. As a result, laboratory planning can only be inadequately detailed, leading to regular frustration among manufacturers, project managers, and users after implementation.
12 Key Questions for Optimal User Analysis
We help you address the key aspects before starting the planning of the new laboratory:
Change Management and User Workshops
Traditionally, more attention is given to the technical aspects than to the people themselves. Planners, project managers, and users are often technically oriented and naturally knowledgeable. However, a new laboratory represents a significant change and uncertainty for the laboratory staff. Active change management can provide valuable support to ensure that work processes can be resumed quickly and with motivation in the new lab. This also helps to avoid the need for another renovation project after completion. Therefore, employees should be involved in the laboratory planning phase and be given the opportunity to express their wishes and needs. Often, these wishes reach the relevant parties at the wrong time in the project, leading to frustration and delays, which negatively impacts the planned costs of the laboratory construction project. User workshops can help you as a builder to address many issues early on. With our subsequent detailed analysis, you can rely on a laboratory plan that meets the needs of the laboratory staff. A new laboratory is created where everyone is satisfied.
In the context of agile project management, planning drafts should be repeatedly presented to laboratory managers and construction supervisors in short phases. Producers of laboratory furniture should also be involved early on. This helps prevent initially good ideas from being implemented in a practically or economically suboptimal way. With professional project management, all involved trades can prepare for timely completion and work together as a team towards project success, rather than blocking each other, wasting time, and shifting tasks back and forth.
Köttermann Switzerland supports you throughout your project—regardless of the phase you are in. As a manufacturer of laboratory furniture with 77 years of experience, we already know what works and what doesn’t during the user analysis phase. We specialize in small to medium-sized projects that need to be operational as quickly as possible. Our delivery times are well below the industry average, allowing us to deliver laboratory furniture, fume hoods, utility services, and hazardous material cabinets to the construction site within 8 to 10 weeks (after measurement and technical clarification).
Steel Laboratory Furniture from Köttermann AG Switzerland
As the only Swiss provider of steel laboratory furniture, we prioritize not only speed, reliability, and quality but also flexibility. Thanks to the manufacturing of laboratory furniture from galvanized and powder-coated steel, the furniture can be modified and repositioned even after years. Our high-quality furniture is durable, non-flammable, moisture-resistant, hygienic, magnetic, and 100% recyclable.
