Brother Helps Lab Professionals Cut Costs, Save Time with Their Annual Top Ten List: ''How to Get More Out of Your Laboratory Office Equipment''.

CHICAGO -- Brother International Corporation (CLMA Booth # 2033) today announced its annual CLMA Top Ten List, "How to Get More Out of Your Laboratory Office Equipment," at the CLMA/ASCP ThinkLab '05 conference and exhibition in Chicago, IL, March 5-8, 2005. The list is designed to help laboratory professionals find the most overlooked opportunities to improve productivity and reduce office equipment costs in the back office and in the uniquely challenging environment of the clinical lab.

"Today's labs face the same pressures to cut costs that all organizations do, but they also have to find affordable ways to work in environments that involve chemicals, abrasives, extreme temperatures and moisture," said Ben Perry, CHP, national healthcare sales manager at Brother. "Our P-Touch electronic labeling systems, for example, allow lab workers to easily label glassware, storage containers and shelving with a laminated label durable enough to survive harsh lab conditions. Laminated labels top this year's list of hidden opportunities for labs to save time and money on such critical laboratory and back-office challenges as labeling, bar coding, reporting and privacy."

Brother's 2005 Top Ten List: "How to Get More Out of Your Laboratory Office Equipment"

1. Use laminated labels. Abrasion resistant, high-resolution, laminated labels don't deteriorate in light or water, so they are safer, more readable and more accurate when scanned. Because the lab environment can be very hard on paper-based products, starting with durable, laminated materials is a great way to minimize safety concerns and save on time and materials associated with re-labeling.

2. Convenient, Flexible Sign Production. Make sure that your labeling solution is flexible enough to meet multiple needs within the lab, office and clinic. Look for systems that can also print signs, safety warnings, badges, photos and anything else you can see on a PC.

3. Get The Most Use from Limited Work Space. A Multi-Function Center(R) model that consolidates all the features of many separate, dedicated machines--a printer, fax, copier, color scanner or PC fax--into one small, space-saving unit, is a great way to get the most from your limited workspace. Using one multifunction machine instead of multiple single-use devices also cuts down on the need to stock multiple toner cartridges and other consumables.

4. Take Advantage of Affordable Laser Color. According to International Data Corp, one of the nation's leading technology market intelligence firms, pricing for color laser printers has reached historically low levels. Almost any business or laboratory function can benefit from the use of high-quality color output, and the cost-benefit equation now makes laser color a clear choice. For example, printing test results and reports in full color enhances readability and charting clarity.

5. Ensure Confidentiality. Look for fax machine, printer or Multi-Function Center(R) models that feature the ability to set a personal password to ensure confidentiality when sending or printing test results, medical records and other sensitive information. Safeguard documents by securely scanning them to the network or to a PDF file so that they cannot be altered.

6. Focus on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). A simple rule of thumb is that the typical organization spends 80% of office equipment costs after purchase. As you assess TCO, remember that it is about much more than just the cost per page, so make sure you include everything from initial acquisition cost and supplies to service options and support programs. Duplex (two-sided) printing, for example, can cut costs for certain applications by reducing paper costs and storage space requirements.

7. Don't Overlook Off-The-Shelf Hardware Solutions for Complex Problems. Everyday, laboratory organizations are finding creative ways to use today's high-functionality off-the-shelf hardware to solve problems that traditionally have called for expensive proprietary solutions. From bar coding to support for mobile workers, be sure to consider solutions based on standard equipment and readily available, affordable supplies before buying more elaborate systems.

8. Don't Get Boxed In To Single Sourcing. Single-sourcing of office equipment has been a long standing practice, especially in large organizations seeking to maximize the efficiency of their IT support function. Unfortunately, vendors of high-end equipment suitable for centralized departmental printing facilities tend to offer their lower-end workgroup equipment at premium prices. With today's plug and play printing devices, compatibility is rarely an issue and organizations need not limit their options on price or functionality, especially for lower-end devices.

9. Support Your Mobile / Remote Workforce. Acquire equipment that supports your workflows. For example, look for fax machines that can page staff when important faxes come in. Then, if they are away from the office, you have the capability to forward their faxes to remote locations. Also, at current price levels, printers for individuals instead of groups make a great deal of sense for both mobility and security concerns.

10. Save Staff Time and Improve Productivity. Be certain your equipment can handle demanding multi-user environments where speed and reliability are essential. For example, consider a fax with dual-access capability so you can copy, print or perform color scanning while faxing.

About Brother International Corporation

Brother's office solutions provide one of the easiest ways for organizations to improve productivity and save money, day after day, year after year. Our award-winning Multi-Function Center(R) models, laser printers, fax machines and P-touch(R) electronic labeling systems are ideal for demanding, fast-paced healthcare environments where speed, reliability and security are critical. Brother International Corporation is a subsidiary of Brother Industries, Ltd., a multi-billion dollar company with diversified worldwide sales, distribution, engineering and manufacturing operations, dedicated to solving the daily challenges of improving productivity and reducing costs. For more information visit http://www.brother.com.