Minimize Downtime With These Essential Service Contract Tips

Obtaining reliable and reproducible results is fundamental to the success of your research. But how do you ensure that your scientific equipment is functional and downtime is at a minimal? Patricia Carry, Head of Analytical Services, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, reveals the factors you should consider when choosing a service contract for your equipment.

1. Consider the complexity and age of your equipment

The complexity and age of your instrument will help you make a decision about the type of service contract that will provide the maximum benefit to your laboratory. The age of the instrument will also influence the type of contract that you purchase.

2. Which type of contract do you need?

Decide whether you require a full or a basic contract. You’ll need a full contract if your equipment is complex or contains parts that require safety monitoring, while basic contracts are more cost effective for simpler instruments that are not used frequently.

3. Online diagnostics make things easy

Online diagnostics allow specialist engineers to repair your equipment remotely and are invaluable in a service contract. Having a specialist engineer fix your instrument online eliminates the need for travel to your lab and reduces the amount of equipment downtime.

4. Response time and number of visits

An attractive service contract will offer a fast response time and should be one of the most influential factors when choosing your contract. The number of maintenance visits is not necessarily as important as the response time, but it is vital that there is some flexibility as to when your visits will occur, so that you can fit maintenance around your work.

5. Don’t forget to negotiate

It is vital to negotiate the options for your service contract with each company before you purchase a new instrument. This enables you to determine the level of warranty for the instrument and the specific details of the service contract.