Balancing Weighing Balance

Often during OECD - GLP inspections, ISO 9001 audits and ISO/IEC 17025 assessments we come across weighing balance as it is a must equipment in preparation of test item, reference materials and production ingredients. One of the typical component of the weighing balance is the level-indicator, which consists of a gas bubble within a circle. The leveling (balancing) is an important prerequisites in operating any balance at laboratory. The balance is leveled when the bubble stays in the circle without touching the circle line. Once the bubble touches the circle line, the measurement of the weight (mass) starts to drift and becomes inaccurate. Eventually the weight measurement is incorrect when the bubble crosses the circle line. Most models of weighing balance is unable to perform auto-leveling even for a calibrated balance. Thus laboratory personnel plays an important role to ensure measurement of weight without error.

Seringkali ketika pemeriksaan OECD - GLP, audit ISO 9001 dan penilaian ISO/IEC 17025, kita akan bertemu alat penimbang berat yang merupakan satu alat wajib dalam penyediaan bahan ujian, bahan rujukan dan ramuan pengeluaran. Satu daripada komponen yang lazim terdapat pada alat penimbang ialah penunjuk - pengarasan yang terdiri daripada satu gelembung gas di dalam bulatan. Mengaras (mengimbang) kedudukan penimbang adalah satu prasyarat penting semasa menggunakan penimbang di makmal. Kedudukan penimbang telah teraras apabila gelembung berada di tengah bulatan tanpa menyentuh garis bulatan. Sebaik sahaja gelembung menyentuh garis bulatan, penyukatan berat (jisim) mulai hanyut and menjadi tidak tepat. Akhirnya penyukatan berat adalah tidak betul apabila gelembung melintasi garis bulatan tersebut. Kebanyakan model alat penimbang berat tidak berupaya melakukan pengarasan secara automatik walaupun telah dikalibrasi. Justeru, kakitangan makmal memainkan peranan penting untuk memastikan penyukatan berat tanpa ralat.

Expiry Before Expiry

Chemical consumables at laboratory includes acid, alkaline, solvent, reagent and many more types chemical substances. It is an universal good practice for laboratory personnel to take note of expiry date stated on the container of the chemical substance. The expiry date reflects that within the stipulated date, the chemical characters (specification) of the substance, e.g. chemical structure, purity, specific gravity, density etc. remain the same without any changes. This assumption allows chemical processes to be performed with certainty of the expected outcome. Often the laboratory personnel tends to overlook that the expiry date is very much dependent on the storage conditions namely temperature, moisture and light. Therefore the right SOP in handling and storage of the chemical substance, and not to forget the monitoring plus recording of the storage condition are crucial to sustain the chemical substance lifetime. In addition, some chemical substances are known to have good stability with long lifetime of more than 10 years yet its container states expiry date of less than 5 years. The reduced expiry date is determined by the container's integrity (bottle & cap) in providing secure and safe storage of the chemical substance. Change on the physical appearance of the container is a sign that the chemical substance has been exposed to extreme environmental condition. Thus, please bear in mind that chemical substance may expire before expiry date.

Pakai habis kimia di makmal merangkumi asid, alkali, pelarut, reagent dan banyak lagi jenis bahan kimia. Satu amalan umum yang baik untuk kakitangan makmal adalah mengambil tahu tarikh luput yang dicatatkan pada bekas bahan kimia. Tarikh luput tersebut mencerminkan tempoh sebelum tarikh tersebut, sifat (spesifikasi) kimia bahan berkenaan, contohnya struktur kimia, ketulenan, graviti spesifik, ketumpatan dan sebagainya kekal tanpa sebarang perubahan. Andaian ini membolehkan proses-proses kimia dijalankan dengan pasti untuk mendapatkan hasil yang dijangkakan. Seringkali kakitangan makmal tidak sedar bahawa tarikh luput tersebut sangat bergantung kepada keadaan penyimpanan seperti suhu, kelembapan and cahaya. Justeru, prosedur kerja tetap (SOP) yang betul dalam mengendali dan menyimpan bahan kimia, dan tidak melupakan pemantauan termasuk merekod keadaan penyimpanan adalah mustahak untuk mengekalkan hayat bahan kimia. Tambahan pula, sesetengah bahan kimia diketahui memiliki kestabilan yang bauk dengan hayat yang panjang melebihi 10 tahun, namun bekas bahan kimia tersebut menyatakan tarikh luput yang kurang dari 5 tahun. Pemendekan tarikh luput itu ditentukan oleh integriti bekas (botol & tudung) dalam menyediakan penyimpanan bahan kimia yang selamat. Perubahan fizikal pada bekas adalah satu petanda bahan kimia tersebut telah didedahkan kepada keadaan persekitaran yang melampau. Oleh itu, sila ambil peduli bahawa sesuatu bahan kimia boleh luput sebelum tarikh luputnya.

Career is "Kerja Yang Berjaya"

Laboratory personnel significantly effects the quality of any testing. Job security by means of career growth may offer better stability of laboratory work force. Career in Malay language is "Kerjaya", which I view as a combination of two words Kerja (Job) yang Berjaya (Successful). It also illustrates important characters to be displayed by laboratory personnel as pre-requisites to gain job security from laboratory management.

K is for "Kuat" means Strong; physical (PQ), intelligent (IQ), emotional (EQ) and social (SQ) qualities
E is for "Emas" means Gold; embraces work practices of gold standards
R is for "Rajin" means Assiduous; work diligently and persevere challenges
J is for "Jimat" means Cost-Conscious; prudent spending of resources
A is for "Amanah" means Trustworthy; dependable to execute authorities
Y is for "Yakin" means Confident; show ability to perform responsibilities
A is for "Aspirasi" means Aspire; moving forward higher quality goals

"Six Million Dollar Man"

An investor may spent $6 million in setting up a chemical testing laboratory, cost covering its building, equipment, environmental monitoring system, utility and supplies. However without a registered chemist, the laboratory may not acquire international accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025) essential to assure competency to its customer and stakeholders. The registered chemist is an asset and liability for the continuity of the $6 million chemical testing business. Hence, a tip to laboratory management; do allocate adequate portion of the $6 million take care the career path of your key personnel especially those signing your test reports and establish contingency plan for replacement chemist to safeguard your business interest.

Pelabur boleh membelanjakan $6 juta untuk menubuhkan satu makmal pengujian kimia, meliputi kos bangunan, alatan, system pemantauan persekitaran, utility dan bekalan. Namun begitu, tanpa seorang ahi kimia berdaftar, makmal tersebut tidak akan memperolehi akreditasi antarabangsa (ISO/IEC 17025) yang mustahak to menjamin kompetensinya kepada pelanggan dan pihak yang berkepentingan. Ahli kimia berdaftar tersebut adalah satu aset dan liabiliti kepada kesenambungan perniagaan pengujian kimia yang bernilai $6 juta. Justeru, satu tip kepada pengurusan makmal; bajetkan dengan mencukupi sebahagian daripada $6 juta tersebut untuk menjaga perkembangan kerjaya kakitangan yang penting khususnya mereka yang menandatangan laporan ujian dan wujudkan pelan kontijensi bagi penggantian ahli kimia tersebut untuk melindungi kepentingan perniagaan anda. 

Being At The Same Height Worldwide

The International Standard Weight (Mass) Used to Calibrate National Standard Mass Worldwide at BIPM, France. Without BIPM initiatives, the mass of 1 kg of sugar in Malaysia may differ with 1 kg of sugar in Japan. Imagine the length of 1 meter not standardized worldwide, you height would vary between countries :-) Traceability to SI units is fundamental of world economy, thus another important tips is to make sure your production measurement devices are calibrated by accredited laboratory.

Pemberat (Jisim) Piawai Antarabangsa yang Pernah Digunakan untuk Kalibrasi Jisim Piawai Kebangsaan Seluruh Dunia di BIPM, Perancis. Tanpa usaha BIPM, 1 kg gula di Malaysia mungkin berbeza jisimnya dengan 1 kg gula di Jepun. Bayangkan panjang 1 meter tidak dikalibrasi diperingkat dunia, tinggi anda akan berbeza mengikut negara :-) Kebolehan untuk menjejak sukatan kepada unit SI adalah asas ekonomi dunia, justeru satu lagi petua yang mustahak adalah memastikan alat pengukuran yang digunakan semasa pengeluaran produk telah dikalibrasi (ditentu-ukur oleh makmal bertauliah).

The "Battles on Quality" at Meeting Room

Quality, perhaps is one of the words that have many versions of definition, occasionally vary greatly due to the fact there are numerous factors significantly influence a person perspective, e.g. age, memory, sensory, knowledge, social status, culture, faith, income, emotion, event and many more. The good part is everyone globally recognize quality and appreciates it, although it is negotiable. 

Perhaps, this is the reason for the mouthful definition given by the international organization ISO in its document ISO 9000: 2000 (Quality Management Systems -- Fundamentals and vocabulary); "Degree to which a set of inherent characteristics of a product, process or system fulfills requirements (need or expectation that is stated, generally implied or obligatory)" The word product here covers goods and services.

Thus, the utmost tip in implementing any quality systems, please ensure everyone in your organization, your stakeholders and your clients accept a standardized definition of quality. This is very important so that everyone is on the same page during any discussions or meetings to move forward on quality related matters.