ABSTRACT
Theflowofworkthroughthelaboratoryisaffectedbya numberoffactors,manyofwhicharebeyondthemanager's directcontrol.Itisparticularlytroublesomewhenothersplan aprojectthatwillrequireanalyticalservicewithouthavingthe laboratoryparticipateatsomepoint.Often,thefirstindication ofachangeintheworkloadisasurgeofsamplesfromsucha newlyinitiatedproject;oraclientwillrequirepriorityservice becauseofsomeemergencysituation.Theresultisthebuildup ofabacklogthatincreasesturnaroundtime,causinggeneral dissatisfactiononthepartofclientsandacrisisatmospherein thelaboratory.
