[labnetwork] how-to retain knowledge

[Vicky Diadiuk]

Hi,
  This is a perennial question that we've tried unsuccessfully to  
approach really formally (we started a process library database,  
searchable by material, process, etc) & the problem is that the person  
inputting the data doesn't benefit from it, so it doesn't work well.
We haven't completely given up, & we have a Wiki site into which users  
can upload their processes - some do.... some actually look at it once  
in a while.

What we are doing, that sort of works, is  maintain electronic  
versions of each process that gets submitted for approval & we are  
insisting on fairly descriptive titles.
The cumulative memory of the Process Technology Committe & the  
fabstaff is the most useful tool, though.

Vicky

On Aug 23, 2010, at 11:21 PM, Vijay wrote:

> Matthieu,
>         I can share my experience of getting process recipes  
> documented
> from students who use our laboratory for their research work (Centre  
> of
> excellence in Nanoelectronics, IISc, Bangalore) in following manner--
>
> 1. A brief format of the reports that each researchers needs to submit
> after completion of research work (or part of it) is given to them at
> the time of their initiating the work.
>
> 2. Report is colleted from them after research is completed and their
> next usage of lab may not be approved if they have not submitted the
> report in appropriate format.
>
> 3. New processes or recipes shared by the user student is documented  
> as
> an internal report authored by the researcher and co-authored by the  
> lab
> staff if essential role played by them. This gives the researchers  
> sense
> of ownership of the work and also co-author gets his due credit. This
> document is not shared publicly until the researcher so desires.
> However, it is available for sharing amongst the Lab members on  
> request
> basis.
>
> (This process is followed with researchers approaching our lab under
> Indian Nanoelectronics Users Program--INUP)
>
> Regards,
>
> VIjay
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu
> [mailto:labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu] On Behalf Of Schroeder,  
> Jeremy L
> Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 9:37 PM
> To: 'Matthieu Nannini, Dr.'; labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu
> Subject: Re: [labnetwork] how-to retain knowledge
>
> Matthieu,
>
> I don't have the answer, but I can briefly comment on the first  
> question
> (i.e. retaining knowledge from fab members).
>
> We have discussed this issue at Purdue's Birck Nanotechnology Center  
> and
> we thought about developing an online knowledge database. However, the
> key is getting members to actually write down their know-how since
> people are often not interested in doing additional work that does not
> clearly benefit them. Not only that, even if members write down their
> information, it has to be written in a clearly understood format and
> someone else should check the information to ensure that it is  
> accurate.
>
> In order to get this to work, I think you need a staff member partly
> devoted to the project. The staff member can ask students for specific
> information and then create standard-format documents from this
> information.
>
> Jeremy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu
> [mailto:labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu] On Behalf Of Matthieu Nannini,
> Dr.
> Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 10:08 AM
> To: labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu
> Subject: [labnetwork] how-to retain knowledge
>
> Dear lab network members,
>
> i'm the manager of the McGill Microfab in Montréal QC and I have a few
> questions to al of you:
>
> I've been asking myself this question for a long time and wondering  
> how
> do others do.
> - how do you retain knowledge from fab members ? process, know-how  
> etc,
> so members don't have to reinvent the wheel every time.
> - where do you draw the line between a researcher doing research and a
> researcher doing r&d for his/her newly spun off company using students
> - how do you deal with patented processes owned by PIs ?
>
> Thanks a lot
>
> Matthieu
>
> -----------------------------------
> Matthieu Nannini
> McGill Nanotools Microfab
> Manager
> t: 514 398 3310
> c: 514 758 3311
> f: 514 398 8434
> http://miam.physics.mcgill.ca/microfab
> ------------------------------------
>
>
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