Increasing Capacity Through Optimizing the Laboratory Layout

After consulting with the lab directors and staff, the following proposal was created:

The renovated space allowed for:

• Twelve Microtomy stations

• Three Embedding stations

• Large dedicated area for Special Stains and Immunohistochemistry

• Creation of Bench Supervisor’s space (open)

• Block/Slide Storage wall

• Large workspace for Case Assembly

• Less cross traffic

• Increase in floor space for expandable microtomy/embedding to accommodate growth

• Space for necessary items and storage for JIT consumable utilization

• Flexible layout to adjust space as needed to account for new equipment and next generation items

This proposal accommodated current volume plus an additional 76 blocks per hour embedding and 136 blocks per hour for microtomy. The additional space and equipment enabled a 50% increase in capacity for an 8 hour period.