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Josh Fritcha

The hidden cost of downtime: What you need to know

Aug 25, 2025 | Biopharma, Blogs, Clinical, Environmental / Industrial, Food / Beverage, Forensic, Life Science Research, Pharma, Service, Support, Technology | 0 comments

In your lab, time is not just a resource. It’s a necessity and every moment counts. Yet, unplanned downtime can disrupt this delicate balance. Even a brief interruption can set your team back in multiple ways.

While facing downtime may be inevitable, the consequences don’t have to derail your momentum. The right service and support can make all the difference. Learn about the factors that can lead to downtime, preventative measures, and how SCIEX can support your lab so you can stay focused on results, not repairs.

Understanding the risk of downtime

Downtime can look different across labs. For pharmaceutical research, it could mean missed development milestones. For clinical testing, it might result in compliance issues or patient delays. For high-throughput labs, the loss of precious samples or data can be irreversible. No matter the work you are doing, downtime is far more than an inconvenience and can go far beyond financial risks. It’s a risk to your operational efficiency, your outcomes, credibility, and your overall progress.

The cost of downtime beyond the repair bill

The impact of unplanned downtime on your lab extends beyond repair costs. It creates a cascade of challenges. Here are four key areas where downtime can cause serious setbacks:

Financial impacts: Time lost during downtime translates to increased operational costs such as wasted labor, delayed billing, potential loss of revenue, and the extra cost of rerunning samples due to compromised data integrity.
Operational disruptions: When your instruments stop working, your team’s efficiency suffers. Downtime disrupts workflows, creates backlogs, and often demands overtime labor to get back on track. Instead of meeting deadlines, your team is spending precious hours troubleshooting and catching up on tasks.
Scientific consequences: The integrity of your samples and data is often time sensitive. Delays can result in sample degradation or compromised data quality, jeopardizing the accuracy of your findings, which can be especially devastating when dealing with irreplaceable or high-value samples. In competitive research environments, these interruptions can lead to missed opportunities, putting you even further behind your competitors.
Reputational risks: Delayed results can have an impact beyond your lab. It can lead to missing customer or regulatory deadlines which can harm trust and credibility and create compliance challenges.

With the right support, these hidden costs can be minimized, ensuring your team’s productivity stays intact.

Common causes of unplanned downtime

While downtime can be unexpected, there are usually identifiable, and often preventable causes behind it. Recognizing these issues can help you proactively address them before they become costly interruptions:

Aging components: Intensive use over time wears down parts, making them more prone to failure if not replaced or maintained.
Skipped or irregular maintenance: Instruments need consistent upkeep to function at their best. Neglecting scheduled maintenance leads to inefficiencies and unexpected breakdowns.
Unresolved software or firmware issues: Software compatibility issues, firmware bugs, or system glitches can disrupt workflows and compromise instrument performance if not adequately addressed.
Non-OEM parts or third-party repairs: Using unauthorized parts or services can lead to compatibility issues, reduced instrument reliability, and even voided warranties.
Lack of system-specific expertise: Mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis instruments are complex and require specialized knowledge to troubleshoot and repair effectively. Without access to trained experts, problems can escalate.

Proactively addressing these factors ensures your lab avoids downtime and maintains consistent productivity.

As Morgan Trimmer from Charles River Labs notes, “We run a lot of dirtier type of assays, tissues, blood, other biologic material. So, our instruments tend to get dirty quite quickly. So SCIEX comes in frequently and helps try to navigate cleaning them and all that. And, within 24 hours we’re back up and running”

Reducing downtime with the right support

Prevention is key when it comes to downtime. Reactive fixes may temporarily patch the problem, but they rarely address the root cause. Here’s how support from SCIEX can help minimize disruptions and keep things running smoothly:

Proactive maintenance: Regularly servicing your instruments prevents problems before they start. By mitigating the risk of wear and tear from prolonged, we ensure long-term reliability and performance, allowing you to continue working.
Trained specialists: SCIEX designed your instruments, which means that no one knows them better than we do. We don’t provide training for third party engineers because your systems deserve expert care. Our engineers have extensive knowledge of each system that allows us to provide fast, accurate diagnoses and solutions. Plus, they receive continuous recertification to stay current with the latest technology and advancements.
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) expertise and parts: Support from an OEM ensures your instruments are serviced with genuine parts, advanced diagnostics, and unmatched system knowledge. Unlike refurbished components you may obtain from third parties, our authentic parts meet the highest standards of quality to ensure your instrument’s reliability and performance.
Custom support solutions: Every lab has unique needs. With customized service plans, you receive support designed specifically for your operations and challenges, tailored to your unique needs. Whether you need predictive analytics, remote monitoring, or routine maintenance, our service plans are created to fit the specific needs of your lab. With global coverage and local responsiveness, we’re ready to provide in-person support to get you up and running.
Access to the latest, authentic software: Outdated or improperly licensed software can compromise workflows. With us, you’re guaranteed access to the latest, fully supported software for reliable and compliant performance.
Personalized upgrade planning: We work with you to create upgrade plans tailored to your budget and goals. Unlike third parties that resell uncertified pre-owned instruments, SCIEX ensures you receive certified systems that deliver consistent results.
Quality management for G&P compliance: We operate under a robust quality management system. This commitment to quality means no shortcuts, only the highest standards for your lab.

Xiujuan Wen from Merck Pharmaceuticals shares her experience with SCIEX service, highlighting how a SCIEX service engineer went above and beyond to ensure her workflow could support her program on time. “I call it a partnership because without them I couldn’t get my job done.”

By partnering with a team like SCIEX that prioritizes your uptime, you can focus on getting work done and advancing your research without interruptions.

Protect your progress with SCIEX

When it comes to minimizing downtime, SCIEX offers an unmatched level of expertise and reliability because not only service instruments, we design them. With SCIEX, you gain access to the team that defined the technology, ensuring your instruments are always in the best hands.

Don’t let downtime hold you back. Talk to a SCIEX expert today to create a customized service plan that keeps your lab on track. Contact us to learn more about how we can help.

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Posted by

Joshua Fritcha

Joshua is an accomplished field service executive with over 15 years of leadership experience across North and South America. As Director of Field Service for the America’s central region at SCIEX, he is committed to driving proactive service strategies that reduce costly downtime and boost lab efficiency for customers.

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