Ensuring that any work sequence or process is performed in the proper manner the first time and every time is referred to as First-time-right (FTR) and originates from Six Sigma. When a lab delivers analysis results, they have to be correct. The slightest glitch during...
In the current financially challenging healthcare climate, laboratories stretch resources to offer high-quality testing while expanding their testing repertoire. Since reagents and consumables are business-critical and comprise a significant part of a laboratory’s operating budget, effective reagent and inventory management is one method that labs use to control costs and eliminate waste. Forecasting reagent consumption (which is dependent on demand), however, is...
Since both Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos have recently entered orbit, we explore what commercial space flights can tell us about QC process validation Major Gagarin to Ground Control Across the centuries, dreamers everywhere have sought to reach for the heavens. In practice, there are many obstacles to humanity touching the stars, the biggest and most significant hurdle being the act of escaping...
In 2008, a survey on laboratory automation concluded that most lab workers (88%) believed they would rely on lab automation in the future. Yet it's 2021, and 72% of scientists now say their sector is lagging behind. The lab of the future seems to have...
Next-generation therapeutic products, including CAR-T and AAV-based, are already on the market and being used to treat previously untreatable conditions. These products are the future of healthcare, with more than 1,300 trials currently underway with more than 90,000 patients treated in these trials (ARM report...
Aalst (Belgium), 27 May 2021. Bluecrux, a leading provider of process & technology solutions in planning, operations and transformation, announces the acquisition of PlanDomino, an Ireland-based start-up active in QC lab planning. This acquisition further consolidates BINOCS, bluecrux’ SaaS application for QC and R&D lab...
Common issues when using Excel for resource management I’ve been using spreadsheet apps during my entire career (almost 30 years now). It started with Lotus Symphony on an IBM PC AT, then Lotus 123 and finally Excel. And I’m still a big fan! I’ve been transforming spreadsheets...
Are you thinking about digitalizing your laboratory resource planning & scheduling? Maybe already listing a couple of potential software vendors? Eventually, you want to arrive at a cloud-based, laser-focused enterprise software that makes the end user's life easier and integrates smoothly with all your other...
‘With which systems do you interface?’ might be one of the most asked questions whenever IT executives enter software evaluation discussions. When IT executives ask the question ‘with which systems do you interface’, what they're really asking is: ‘how will you make sure the interface...
Binocs is pleased to announce the appointment of Akshay Peer (Ph.D.). As a co-founder of TrakCel, Akshay has spent his last 8 years working closely with a large number of CGT developers and associated organizations. He was instrumental in growing the company from 2 employees...
The importance of fully optimizing asset utilization Equipment is expensive, so you need to ask yourself: are we using our equipment as efficiently as possible? Is it giving us the desired return on investment? Should we invest in new equipment or solve capacity bottlenecks by better...
Do you sometimes tend to make decisions without reliable data to back them up? In today’s labs, critical decisions about how to optimize the ROI of laboratory equipment are often made based on incomplete information. Having a clear picture of instrument usage can help you...
A case for lab employee retention With the ever-growing focus on improving lab efficiency and service levels, it's, now more than ever, crucial not to lose sight of your most valuable asset: your people. A high turnover is particularly frustrating in labs because it takes quite some...
With the countdown to the holidays, you’re probably getting overwhelmed with year reviews & happy holiday wishes. So, we’re keeping it short :). Check out how we summarized our great Binocs year in 1 infographic and movie. We’ve 1 message left: We want to sincerely thank our customers and...
Setting the lab targets for 2021: lab performance KPIs, great. But how can you make them actionable.? Increasing your lab service levels and throughput starts with actionable KPIs. But how can you make your lab performance KPIs more actionable? And how can you make sure you are making the right decisions today...
About a year and a half ago, we were asked by a client in the US to help them implement capacity planning & detailed scheduling for manufacturing and quality operations in a CAR-T cell & gene therapy production plant. What are the insights that we...
Introduction For the first time, we participated in Future Labs Live. The conference is the world's most multidisciplinary event for R&D, quality, and manufacturing laboratories. "BINOCS supports organizations in optimizing planning adherence and throughput." That was the key message of Mathias Lasoen's presentation at Future Labs...
“Yes, we lost the game… but I scored!” is not an uncommon expression among soccer players. While soccer trainers incentivize players on an individual level, it’s important that, in doing so, the players do not lose sight of the overall objective: winning the game. ‘Winning...
Daily stand-up meetings: we all know them. It’s where we all get together and discuss the day ahead. In QC labs, however, where capacity scheduling is very challenging, these meetings are critical. Therefore: a couple of quick tips to organize those daily stand-up meetings. 3 best...
In 2018, Merck KGaA started to use Binocs in one of their QC labs in Switzerland. Thanks to good collaboration between the teams, it only took four months to have the first lab sections up and running. Based on this first good experience further roll-out...
Though defined differently depending on the organization, KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are the metrics that we track to boost performance and ensure future success. A lot, if not all, of the KPIs, however, only look at what happened in the past (backward-looking). While learning from...
Scheduling and capacity planning in QC laboratories are challenging and complex. That growing complexity is, more and more, a hurdle that keeps organizations from fully optimizing their lab operations. Binocs, instead, embraces that complexity and optimizes QC laboratory efficiency in 6 ways: One integrated planning Lab scheduling...
Pharmaceutical companies evolve all the time: they re-restructure, expand, switch from day regime to an early/late shift regime, consolidate,… These evolutions can be sudden or more spread out, they can have a minimal or big impact, … But regardless of the type or magnitude, you...
Effectively managing many projects at once is challenging, to say the least. More projects mean more interdependencies, more people and team constraints, more due dates… In short, you need a digital tool to manage this. Binocs has a different approach than most other project management tools...
Planning efficiency and adherence based on...
In the coming five to ten years, emerging technologies will drastically change the way analysts interact with equipment and processes in the labs. Such technologies include advanced analytics, AI/ML, robotics and advanced planning and scheduling, and automation. Those innovations will make laboratories more agile, reliable,...
Binocs is mentioned as an innovative approach to study planning & management in the latest Gartner report – which discusses the use of innovative tools to optimize the time and effort spent on clinical trials. The key challenge? The key challenge? We, at Binocs, often call it...
Binocs and COVID-19 - how do we work during a pandemic? With COVID-19 continuing to impact people, countries, and businesses around the world, the Binocs team has taken all the precautionary measures to keep our employees and clients safe. That, however, doesn’t mean you should expect...
Binocs supports organizations in tackling one of the most critical challenges: proactively ensuring that the right resources are available, at the right moment, while avoiding too much administrative planning work. That was the key message that our VP of sales, Frederik Jaenen, communicated at the...
With the advent of digital innovations, technology has immensely helped teams to work better and perform more efficiently. Nevertheless, the pace of work is increasing every day. More projects, more tasks, more goals needing to be completed end of the quarter, end of the week, end...
