How Can DAMAS Help Me Manage My Laboratory Better?

Like any GMP system, DAMAS is designed for two main purposes, firstly to satisfy national or local regulatory requirements and secondly, and perhaps more importantly, to provide definite benefits to the laboratory. DAMAS was devised by laboratory owners and technicians who understand all aspects of this competitive industry.

DAMAS places the focus on the hands-on activities within the laboratory and suggests methods of improving or streamlining current practices. A general description of the laboratory’s activities is described in procedures and encourages the investigation of the causes of problems.

For instance remakes. We are all aware that remakes are unavoidable, time consuming and, therefore, expensive. DAMAS suggests and provides a simple system for the recording of remakes and an investigation into the most common causes.

If you can eliminate just one remake a week, that could save you thousands of dollars a year. DAMAS provides the means to accomplish this in even the smallest of laboratories without creating mounds of paperwork or time-consuming input.

Once a common cause has been established (for remakes for example), DAMAS provides the means to take corrective and preventive actions, which result in economic savings to the laboratory in both materials and manpower.

Also, DAMAS will enable you to reduce the time in dealing with complaints and their causes, by an active approach to preventive action, providing you with more time to actually run your laboratory. A satisfied customer is a happy customer.

The same DAMAS philosophy applies to all other areas of the laboratory functions. In an article written by Mark Jackson of Precision Ceramics Dental Laboratory in Montclair, Calif. Mark states that after implementing DAMAS he is saving from $300 to $500 per month on his maintenance costs. Read Mark's DAMAS-related JDT Unbound column here.

By addressing common causes of problems that may occur within the laboratory, DAMAS ensures that, overall, a better product is consistently produced and problems become highlighted at an early stage.

Also, DAMAS encourages active participation by all laboratory employees creating an atmosphere of shared responsibility. It never ceases to surprise us how enthusiastically most technicians embrace the DAMAS concept and how valuable their input and observations prove to be.

DAMAS provides the means for laboratories, whatever size, to control all processes, also to easily gather and process the necessary data to ensure a more efficient, cost effective and therefore more profitable operation without excessive paperwork or manpower input.

DAMAS is re-certified on a yearly basis and a certificate showing compliance is issued to the laboratory. Each certified laboratory is able to display the DAMAS logo on documentation and Web sites as evidence of its commitment to excellence and customer care.