If your company has not worked with Butterworth Laboratories previously, or you are new to outsourcing a project, the following information may be of assistance.
- What type of projects can Butterworth Laboratories undertake?
The "Applications" pages of the website list a number of areas in which we can undertake larger scale projects. Our main areas of work cover analytical chemistry and phys/chem testing. We do not undertake animal testing, toxicological or microbiological analysis.
Whilst we have made every effort to illustrate the complete range of our services in this website, we are aware that you may still have further questions you wish to ask. If so, please contact our Business Development Manager John Welch (john.welch@butterworth-labs.co.uk) for further information.
- Can Butterworth Laboratories offer consultancy?
Butterworth are listed in the Royal Society of Chemistry Directory of Consulting Practices and Organisations with the majority of the analytical staff being professional members of the RSC. Whether the nature of the work is routine analysis or a larger based project, the staff of Butterworth are very willing to provide advice relating to the analytical chemistry services we provide.
- Can staff at Butterworth Laboratories act as Expert Witnesses?
We are not registered as Expert Witnesses and therefore cannot enter into discussions or proffer opinions on the application or consequence of the results, other than those directly relating to the analytical procedures undertaken.
- Who do I contact to arrange to initiate a project?
If you have worked with us before and you know the Senior Manager of the department concerned, we would encourage you to contact them directly.
Otherwise, please contact our Business Development Manager John Welch (john.welch@butterworth-labs.co.uk).
- What information will I be required to supply?
The following list is typical of the information required to provide a quotation:
- Name and address of company
- Contact name and details
- History behind reason for project
- Type of sample to be analysed
- Number of samples to be submitted
|
- Full analytical requirements
- Methods to be employed
- Specification/ limits of detection to be met
- Analysis completion date/ turn-round required
- Whether a GLP compliant study is required
|
It is essential that we are made aware of the background and why the work is being requested. The more fully we are informed at the initiation of the project, the more comprehensive and accurate our estimation of costs can be. It may also have an impact on the advice we provide on the analysis requirements of the project concerned.
Due to the legal ramifications, it is essential that we know if the work is relating to Patent Infringements or Insurance Claims, so that we can take the relevant advice from our insurers and solicitors and make sure that we do not have a conflict of interest.
- Can I be assured of confidentiality?
All work done by us is undertaken on a strictly confidential basis, which is in accordance with the requirements of our UKAS and GLP accreditations and the Confidentiality and Secrecy Agreements that we have with our clients.
For more information on confidentiality and service/ technical agreements, please contact our Business Development Manager John Welch (john.welch@butterworth-labs.co.uk).
- How are projects managed?
Following acceptance of the quotation, a project manager is appointed to oversee the analytical work and produce the final report. The project manager will be your point of contact throughout the life of the project. It is their responsibility to ensure that the work is undertaken in a timely manner, to the highest analytical standards and in compliance with our Quality System.
For regulatory studies in compliance with GLP, the management of Butterworth will appoint a Study Director or Principle Investigator who will be responsible for the production of the analytical study plan and other relevant documents. It is again this person who is responsible for the conduct of the study and production of the final report. The QA Department audit all critical phases of the study or delegated phase and report their findings to the Principal Investigator and/or Study Director and management. Copies of all QA Inspection reports are enclosed within the report submitted.
- Can I obtain a draft report?
We are able to accommodate those customers who wish to approve a copy of the report prior to its issue. To ensure that this stage is accounted for, we require to be informed of this requirement at the initial discussion phase so that the additional administration costs can be accounted for in the quotation.
- Can I visit to observe/audit my project being performed?
We actively encourage as much contact with our customers as is possible. You are welcome to observe or audit at any stage of the project. To arrange this please contact either the manager responsible for the project or the QA Manager David Hawkins (david.hawkins@butterworth-labs.co.uk).
- How are projects costed?
As with all work, an assessment of the time required is made following the initial discussions. From this we provide an estimate of the costs based on a daily rate of the level of personnel required to perform the analytical work.
All project work is quoted on the basis of the expected time the work will take. If, during the course of the work, it appears that the time required will be more than our estimate we will seek your further instructions before undertaking any more work.
For larger projects we try to break down the work into smaller manageable stages, so that progress reports can be provided on completion of a particular aspect of the work. In this way, if the work, for whatever reason, is not progressing in the expected manner, the work can be terminated and an invoice produced for the work already completed.
- How quickly will the project be undertaken?
The quotation will contain an estimate of expected completion dates of both the analysis and the report. Depending on the size of the project this is often between 3 - 4 weeks. As soon as the results are available and have been typed into a report format, we can fax or e-mail, prior to putting the report in the post.
- How are projects reported?
A bound report is issued containing results, any other important observations and findings and the analytical raw data.
For GLP Studies, the report is produced in accordance with the regulations and shall also contain a copy of the QA Inspection report.
In certain circumstances results can be relayed prior to the production of the report. In these instances it may be that these have not been fully checked for accuracy. A statement to this effect will be attached to the communication and that the Butterworth Laboratories reserves the right to make alterations to these in the final report.
