Choosing the Right Lab Services Plan for You

July 2022

When it comes to selecting the right service plan that will best suit the needs of the operation, lab managers must weigh the costs versus benefits of their service plan options carefully. 

Which is why Thermo Fisher Scientific’s lab services experts have been appointed with the skills, knowledge, and experience to assist customers with managing their risks, budget, and compliance requirements across a variety of workflows. 

Risk management

Failure to have a proper service plan in place for lab equipment and instruments costs businesses thousands of dollars every year. For many labs, choosing the right service and support plan often comes down to one simple question:

“Can you really afford not to have a coverage plan?”

Factory warranties have a limited lifespan and pre-determined expiry dates. Additionally, relying on third-party engineering services often results in the wrong parts being used or a misstep in compliance measures. So, by the time a lab reaches out to their supplier for help – the damage has already been done and instrument downtime is unavoidable.

Improper service coverage for lab equipment and instruments can result in premature equipment failures, voided manufacturer’s warranties, and expensive repairs or replacements. In the instance of an equipment breakdown, labs need to have break-fix solutions in place to minimise downtime and cover the incidental cost of parts, labour, and replacements.

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s lab service experts help to identify, understand, and reduce risks by using a checklist list of OEM approved procedures, requirements, and on-site calibration services to perform regular maintenance. In addition to this, our factory trained and certified field service engineers (FSEs) are experienced with all of the workflows, equipment, and instrumentation that we supply.

Budget 

It’s not uncommon for lab managers to think they are saving money in the short term by not having a service plan in place for their equipment and instruments. In fact, it can be hard to quantify the tangible value of investing in a service and support plan without the full scope of cost benefits. 

Thermo Fisher Scientific recognises that budget constraints are a reality for most labs. Which is why we have developed three tiered levels of comprehensive support plans – Tech Direct, Essential, and Premier – that offer ‘good, better and best’ levels of service, depending on a lab’s budget requirements.

Each service plan offers priority response times for preventative maintenance and repairs, ranging from four days on a basic coverage plan to next day service at the highest tier. If a break fix is required, parts, labour and time can be included in costs upfront or supplied at a discounted rate. 

The decision to opt for a more premium plan depends on whether a fixed annual cost that covers breakdowns is deemed less risky for a business than keeping a pocket of money just in case. Most labs will find that extra costs up front ensure more financial security over the long term and are usually offset by reduced risks. 

Compliance 

Whether science is being done in a regulated or non-regulated environment, it’s important that lab managers establish what their non-negotiables are in terms of meeting compliance.

Failure to meet compliance requirements can compromise the integrity of scientific work which is why it’s important to keep equipment and instruments calibrated, validated, and compliant with regulations.

Our lab services and support experts are trusted experts in designing, building, testing, and supporting validation processes that are tailored to the specific needs of every lab. Lab service plans include the option to qualify and validate equipment and instruments as part of scheduled maintenance and all calibration services are performed to Australian Standards. 

Our field service engineers (FSEs) use OEM documentation and quality guidelines to provide labs with relevant paperwork and supporting evidence of compliance. So, labs can focus on what really matters – the science. 

As a world leader in serving science, Thermo Fisher Scientific understands that the most important scientific work requires an equally exceptional service plan that can assist with managing workflows, maximising uptime, and extending the life of valuable equipment.

For more information, please contact one of our service experts today.