Smart Chemical Inventory Management Solutions for University Lab Budgets
Lab budgets in higher education are often stretched thin, especially when it comes to chemical inventory management and research supplies. Here are 3 easy ways to cut lab management costs and make your department’s funding work smarter while maintaining academic excellence and laboratory safety standards.
Key notes
- Optimize chemical inventory management across departments
- Leverage laboratory equipment management systems
- Streamline laboratory safety compliance
Optimize Chemical Inventory
Many university labs struggle with chemical inventory tracking, often leading to unnecessary duplicate purchases and expired materials. Consider implementing a centralized chemical inventory management system that allows multiple departments to track shared resources. Biology and chemistry departments can coordinate purchases of common reagents, while environmental science and engineering labs can share analytical chemicals. This chemical tracking system not only reduces waste but also ensures compliance with safety regulations and improves hazardous materials management
Leverage Laboratory Equipment Management Systems
Before purchasing new analytical instruments or chemical storage equipment, explore your institution’s equipment sharing network. Many universities have implemented successful laboratory asset management programs where departments can access sophisticated analytical instruments and chemical storage facilities without the full financial burden. For equipment you must purchase, consider high-quality used laboratory instruments from reputable dealers like LabX or Marshall Scientific.
Streamline Compliance
With multiple research groups handling chemicals and constant student turnover, efficient chemical inventory management becomes crucial for safety compliance. Invest in a laboratory information management system (LIMS) that can handle chemical tracking, safety data sheets (SDS), and waste management protocols. This not only prevents unnecessary duplicate purchases but also helps track grant-specific chemical usage for reporting purposes. Clear labeling and chemical storage organization systems help new students and researchers quickly locate materials while maintaining proper segregation of incompatible chemicals.
About Vertere
For over 30 years, Vertére has been honored to serve the laboratory and scientific community with best in class, barcode-enabled inventory management systems. Whether you manage chemicals, biologicals, equipment, or stockroom supplies, VIM modules are equipped to address all challenges of inventory management in an environment of constant change. Our employees embody this visionary approach to inventory management in and out of the office.
Learn more about Vertere’s VIM system here.