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STEM Physical Sciences

Explore research and projects from STEM Physical Sciences.

Client Project Process

The following steps describe how we manage new research projects within the HVI & SPE Labs:

Initial Discussions

  • Enquiry sent to HVI & SPE Lab Team through Contact us
  • Introductions between clients and HVI & SPE Lab Team – via Teams or in-person.
  • Client describes their experiment concept, including as many details as possible of different engineering, technical, material and timing requirements
  • Optimal test conditions & engineering requirements defined by the Client
  • Experiment costs discussed – depending on the project complexity, service level and time required to conduct
  • Provisional experimentation dates identified
  • Project Planning Process (included on this page) discussed and understood with client

Experiment Plan

All experiments require an Experiment Plan to progress. This should include:

  • Experiment title
  • List of materials and substanstances, especially hazardous, including quantities, storage and transportation. Destinctions must be made between items supplied by the client or by HVI & SPE Lab Team
  • List of equipment/apparatus required from the HVI & SPE Labs. Highlight any hazards
  • List of consumables required from the HVI & SPE Lab. Highlight any hazards
  • List of Personal Protective Equipment, specifying what is provided by the client or by the HVI & SPE Labs
  • List of Training courses required before conducting experiments
  • List of required laboratory support – we have individuals train and run experiments entirely independently, or we have provided in-person support. Please specify.
  • Experimental Procedure – step by step within the lab space, including safety controls, apparatus set-up, analysis, clean-up
  • Specify any sample preparation required within the laboratory
  • Prioritised list of different experiment variables to be considered (be quantative). Include any possible variables, even outside of your primary scope, because spontaneous decisions to try different variables would require more H&S paperwork, which would delay experimentation
  • Estimated duration of each experiment
  • Optimum and Minimum number of experimental runs
  • Drawings or Diagrams of experimental set-up
  • Contingency Planning – consider worst case scenarios
  • Experimentation time management including how many experiments can be performed within a workday (9:00 am to 4:30 pm) – if overnight experimentation (unattended) is required, please specify.
  • Clean up – consider what items may need to be stored or disposed of and how samples or data is transported out of the laboratory.

Experiment Plan Review

  • Using the guidelines above, Client produces a draft Experiment Plan for review by the HVI & SPE Lab Team
  • HVI & SPE Lab Team internally reviews the Experiment Plan and makes comments and suggested amendments
  • Meet with Client to discuss comments and amendments to Experiment Plan
  • HVI & SPE Lab Team generates a Quotation and Service Contract for the work – This must be signed by the client before progressing

Test Plan Review

  • Following amendments, the Client presents the final Experiment Plan
  • HVI & SPE Lab Team review the Final Experiment Plan
  • HVI & SPE Lab Team meet Client for ‘Test Plan Review’ – agree on last amendments, and last preparation for experiments
  • HVI & SPE Lab Team finalise H&S documentation and organise training for client

Test Readiness Review

~1 month before the experimentation the Test Readiness Review takes place, which is the last go / no go point before experimentation. Any further engineering requirement changes will be the client’s responsibility.

  • Agree on Final Experiment Plan
  • Agree on Final Test Schedule
  • Agree on Final experiment set-up
  • HVI & SPE Lab Team provide pre-induction materials

Experimentation

  • Client arrives on site, first reporting to the Berrill Reception to receive a visitors badge
  • Client completes Laboratory Induction
  • Client unloads materials, samples and equipment into th laboratory
  • Clients +/- HVI & SPE Lab Team set-up experiment apparatus
  • Client conducts their experimentation following the risk assessments and local rules of the laboratory at all times
  • Following conlcusion of the experiments – Clients clean the lab space to return it to its original condition and completes the de-brief. The client can leave items in the laboratory for future experimentation if labelled and stored safely, or they can take away with them or dispose of excess items.
  • Clients must return their visitor badges to the Berrill Reception at the conclusion of their visit