Improving the Effectiveness of Forensic DNA Testing Services through the Application of Lean Principles

Lean is a management system of continuous improvement that eliminates waste and utilizes the scientific method to solve problems encountered in any business. The Washington State Patrol Marysville Crime Laboratory's DNA unit faced persistent backlogs of requests and the average turnaround times exceeded three months, a common situation in crime laboratories. In an attempt to improve the effectiveness of DNA testing, the laboratory conducted a lean project in 2015. This article describes the integration of lean into the DNA unit's management and testing processes, which ultimately resulted in increased productivity and reduced turnaround times for DNA results while maintaining a high level of quality.