[More efficient use of resources in research laboratories through quality management].

Abstract

At first glance, research and quality management (QM) could hardly be more different. Research is characterized by freedom, creativity, and flexibility. QM often appears rigid, strict, and bureaucratic. Nevertheless, research laboratories can benefit significantly from the principles of QM, especially when it comes to increasing the quality and efficiency of research and thus making the best possible use of resources that are constantly limited.High research quality depends on various factors. These different influencing factors were examined in detail and implemented in a specific research quality management system (QMS) in pilot laboratories of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and at a university institution. The research QMS is based on the requirements of good scientific practice. It was shown that many laboratories have already established processes that can be further optimized and made more efficient by a QMS.A self-assessment tool for laboratory managers was developed to assess the maturity level of laboratory processes. This report provides an overview of the quality in research and shows ways in which this can be improved at the level of the working groups, tailored to their individual framework conditions. For this purpose, a QMS is proposed and a tool for the self-assessment of one's own processes is presented. The report is based on a comprehensive literature review and a cross-departmental and cross-institutional project of the RKI.