Survey on the popularity of 'Do-It-Yourself' in laboratories

This survey aims to investigate the popularity of 'Do-It-Yourself' practices regarding equipment in laboratories of all kinds.

In the context of this survey, 'laboratory' means 'any facility whose main activity is to carry out scientific or technical measurements'.

Please make sure that only one answer by laboratory is submitted. You can answer open questions in the language of your choice.

This survey has been designed for research purpose by Edouard Salingros (edouard.salingros@uliege.be, PhD student at the faculty of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Belgium). It has been developped using R and the package shiny. It is hosted directly by the server of the faculty and does not rely on any third party.

Which best describes the form of the organization hosting the laboratory where you work?

Private for-profit

Private non-profit

University / Teaching

Public / Regulatory / Governmental

Which best describes the purpose of your laboratory?

Fundamental research

Applied research and development

Conformity assemment / Quality control for products and processes

Other

Please specify

In which country is your laboratory located?

You can start typing your country to find it.

How many people are directly employed within your laboratory, in full-time jobs equivalents?

Less than 20

Between 20 and 50

Between 51 and 150

More than 150

Which types of analytical techniques does your organization (mainly) perform?

Biological (e.g., ELISA and other bioassays, PCR and DNA sequencing, flow cytometry, gel electrophoresis, monitoring of cell cultures through pH, dissolved oxygen...)

Chemical (e.g., chromatography, atomic/molecular spectrophotometry, electrochemistry techniques, titration)

Physical (e.g., granulometry, surface tension, viscosity, electromagnetic properties, thermal measurements, mechanical analysis...)

Please describe briefly the field of activity of your organization.

In-house repairing

This part of the survey will focus on in-house repair ; i.e. , the repair of equipment by the laboratory's own personnel (entirely or mostly), resorting to external provider only for the provision of spare parts, or technical advice.

Has your laboratory ever repaired any equipment in-house?

Example: repairing, replacing or reattaching a loose part such as pump, valve, leaking joint, electric connection, transmission component, a light source...

Yes

Please specify which equipment was repaired in-house and what the repair involved.

You can enter up to five pieces of equipment.

First equipment

Second equipment (if any)

Third equipment (if any)

Fourth equipment (if any)

Fifth equipment (if any)

According to you, what benefits can in-house repairing bring to your laboratory?

Please specify at least one elemnt. You can enter up to five elements. Their order does not matter.

First benefit

Second benefit (if any)

Third benefit (if any)

Fourth benefit (if any)

Fifth benefit (if any)

Please indicate to what extent the following benefits promote the implementation of in-house repair in your laboratory.

'In-house repair is prefered to repair by external service provider when possible because it is cheaper'

Fully corresponds

Somewhat corresponds

Does not really correspond

Does not correspond at all

'In-house repair is prefered to repair by external service provider when possible because it is faster'

Fully corresponds

Somewhat corresponds

Does not really correspond

Does not correspond at all

According to you, what are the obstacles to the implementation of in-house repairing in your laboratory?

Please specify at least one elemnt. You can enter up to five elements. Their order does not matter.

First obstacle

Second obstacle (if any)

Third obstacle (if any)

Fourth obstacle (if any)

Fifth obstacle (if any)

Is in-house repair allowed in your laboratory?

Yes, it is formally allowed in documented procedures.

Yes, but not formally in documented procedures.

No, but not formally in documented procedures.

No, it is formally prohibited in documented procedures.

DIY equipment

This part of the survey will focus on home-built equipment ; i.e. , equipment that is assembled by the organization's own personnel, resorting to external provider only for the provision of spare parts, or technical advice.

Have your laboratory ever built and used any home-built equipment for laboratory purpose?

It can be any kind of equipment (electronic or not, moving or not) used for laboratory task such as sampling, sample preparation or measurement. It can be as simple as a wooden piece cut for a specific purpose or a custom/specific glassware assembly.

Yes

Have the legetimacy or proper functioning of home-built equipment been challenged by external auditors?

Yes

Please explain the briefly the situation and how it was solved?

Have you ever heard or read about the brand of microcontrollers 'Arduino'?

Yes

Have your laboratory already used Arduino microcontrollers?

No, never

Yes, once or twice

Yes, multiple times / regularly

Have you ever heard or read about the brand of microcomputers 'Raspberry Pi'?

Yes

Have your laboratory already used Raspberry Pi microcomputers?