#58 from R&D Innovator Volume 2, Number 9          September 1993

FORUM—from our readers                                 

Let's Buy the Super-X Model!

Over my long career directing research, I've often had to decide on scientists' requests for fancy new equipment.   Many times, I'm suspicious of its value, but the scientists usually counter that the equipment will "Speed up the simulation modeling and take a year off the project," or "Save on technical manpower," or "Provide new insights into the project."

Too often, unfortunately, many of these fancy machines are used for a few months and then end up collecting dust and usurping valuable bench space.  Worse, they never provide any of the supposed benefits. 

Equipment can cost more than money and space.  Sometimes, a scientist may waste months fiddling with an instrument, making sure it's calibrated and the output is in the correct form, and only then realize that it's not useful to the project.

But it's a difficult call.  How can I expect a scientist to know the value of an instrument until it's been tested on the specific project?  After years of these requests, I've formulated some tactics to minimize problems:

1)  Ask if the equipment manufacturer will lend (or lease) a unit until we can determine its value to our project.

2)  Find a laboratory in the local university (or industry) with the machine (sales reps should give you this information).  It's usually easy to make a deal to buy time on the machine.  (In some cases, we have relied on outside machines for years, without ever having to purchase one.)

3)  Spend a little money upgrading an older version of the equipment so it  can meet your needs, or check with used-equipment dealers.

4)  If it looks like purchase is the only option, ask the requesting scientist(s) to place the item on a priority list along with other needs (e.g., an extra technician or more space).  This helps you assess how much the scientist really thinks he or she needs the equipment.

Many scientists, including me, just love to get our hands on a new piece of equipment, to learn to use it, to extend its capabilities, and to watch data flow from it.  That's one of the reasons we chose to become researchers in the first place.  But when money is tight, this kind of toy becomes a luxury that the laboratory can't pay for—and shouldn't.

Anonymous