Conducting a Lean Laboratory Assessment for a National Contract Laboratory
In this Lean Laboratory assessment case study, Clarkston Consulting recently partnered with a national contract laboratory to enhance their lab operations. Read a synopsis of the project below or download the full case study.
Download the Lean Laboratory Assessment Case Study Here
The client is a leading national contract laboratory recognized for its rigorous testing processes, robust accreditation standards, and exceptional quality outcomes. For decades, it has set the benchmark in clinical toxicology and forensic testing, serving healthcare providers, medical researchers, coroners, and the criminal justice system with cutting-edge diagnostic services. To meet growing market demands and reinforce its commitment to continuous improvement, the client is actively streamlining and enhancing laboratory operations to support future scalability through strategic investments.
Clarkston was engaged in assessing current operations and identifying optimization opportunities across people, processes, and technology related to Lean Laboratory principles. As part of this comprehensive engagement, Clarkston conducted lab walkthroughs, “Day in the Life” observations, and detailed time studies spanning from sample receipt through final results reporting to capture key activities, decision points, and cross-functional interactions. Interviews were facilitated with key personnel to gain deeper insights into challenges, improvement opportunities, and operational bottlenecks.
To build a holistic view of the current state, Clarkston also reviewed and assessed existing process flows, standard operating procedures (SOPs), departmental structure, organizational culture, and technical capabilities. The laboratory’s business strategy was analyzed to ensure alignment with organization, operational, and performance goals.
Based on this analysis, Clarkston proposed future-state process flows and identified relevant key performance indicators (KPIs) and improvement targets aimed at reducing turnaround times (TAT), minimizing waste, improving first-time-right metrics, and increasing overall lab throughput. A detailed, phased implementation roadmap was delivered, outlining short-, mid-, and long-term activities and offering guidance on execution, change management, and long-term sustainability.
Clarkston’s holistic assessment and strategic guidance enabled the client to take a proactive approach. As a result, the client is equipped with a clear and actionable plan to achieve sustainable efficiency gains and operational excellence. With improved productivity, optimized workflows, better resource utilization, and a performance management framework aligned to their strategic goals, the laboratory is now well-positioned to meet future demand, scale operations, and maintain its leadership in forensic and clinical toxicology testing.
