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Test in-house or outsource to a testing house?

Posted on by Dave Toner
Votsch (now Weiss) chambers supplied by DACTEC in Ireland, carrying out standard tests for their customers in a test house.
26
Sep

Test In-house or Outsource to a Testing House?

Test in-house or outsource to a testing house, that is the question.

Customers who produce items, whether they be pieces of electronics, medical devices, drugs, packaging, etc, usually need to test them to the relevant standards. This can be done by one of the independent Testing Labs in Ireland or sent abroad.

Steris or Tyndall Institute are excellent examples of independent Irish Testing Labs.

The other option is to obtain the space, facilities, equipment, staff and know how to test in-house.

We list below the advantages of both options:

Sending Samples to Testing Labs

  1. This avoids the capital investment of an in-house lab with attendant requirements such as space, staff, training, energy expenditure, calibration.
  2. The Testing Labs regularly know more about the details of the Standards than the manufacturer may need to know.
  3. If a new testing requirement arises the Testing Lab often can supply that service.
  4. If greater capacity is required the Testing Lab can regularly accommodate it.
  5. Accredited independent test labs like Steris and Tyndall must always give impartial, factual test results and will offer experienced advice for optimising product and packaging.

Testing In-House

  1. Savings can be made by not having to pay external testing.
  2. Shipping costs can by high especially for repeat testing of failed samples that must return for reworking and if cold chain shipping is required for Pharma products.
  3. Time, and therefore costs, can be saved if your samples fail. Getting them back to rework them where the expertise is and sending them off to be tested again can be expensive due to the delays entailed.
  4. As the manufacturer‚ your site is where the in-depth product knowledge is, it can be advantageous to test there.
  5. The compliance of the tests are the manufacturer responsibility. They need only be concerned about their own adherence to the Standards.

Why not look at rental options from DACTEC? Contact Us.

Conclusion

DACTEC and Weiss Technik have found that some of our customers are using a mix of both approaches.

They do the testing in-house that they need most often, especially if it requires a reasonable investment.

The more expensive, infrequent, long-term or unusual tests they get done externally.

We hope that this blog has helped you with the question ‘Test In-house or Outsource or to a Testing House’?

If you would like to discuss it further please do get in touch, we would be very happy to share our experience with you. Contact us.

More Information

If you need advice or want help with your particular application or any queries about the points raised in ‘Test in-house or outsource to a testing house?’, please feel free to contact us.

You might also find the following blogs of interest:

If you would like more information about DACTEC’s service support, such as:

  • Service Agreements
  • IQOQ, IPV’s, Calibration and Validation
  • Spare Parts and Consumables
  • Installations
  • Call-Outs
  • Maintaining Your Chamber

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See what our customers say about DACTEC on our Testimonial page.

For a full description of our offerings and a quote please contact us.

Dave Toner