Scientific Troubleshooting & Failure Analysis
When Something Goes Wrong, Start With the Scientific Question
A product fails.
A batch behaves differently..
A material behaves differently than expected.
A material changes.
Contamination appears.
Shelf life suddenly decreases.
A manufacturing process that previously worked begins producing inconsistent results.
An unexpected particle, residue, microorganism, chemical, or material is discovered.
In situations like these, the most important question is often not:
“Which laboratory test should we order?”
It is:
“What happened—and what scientific information do we need to understand why?”
CMDC Labs provides multidisciplinary scientific troubleshooting and failure-analysis support to
help organizations investigate unexpected product, material, manufacturing, contamination,
quality, and research problems.
Rather than forcing a complex problem into a predetermined test, we begin by understanding
the situation and determining which scientific approaches may help answer the question.
CMDC Labs is
accredited under
From Unexpected Result to Scientific Investigation
Traditional laboratory testing usually begins with a defined request:
“Test this sample for this analyte using this method.”
That is an important part of what CMDC Labs does.
But many real-world scientific problems are not that clearly defined.
A manufacturer may know that a product is failing without knowing whether the cause involves
chemistry, microbiology, materials, manufacturing, packaging, storage, or environmental
conditions.
A food producer may see changing shelf life without knowing which variables should be
investigated.
A researcher may have a scientific objective without having the necessary analytical capabilities
internally.
A startup may need to characterize a new product before it knows which formal testing pathway
will eventually be required.
In these situations, selecting a test is not necessarily the first step.
Understanding the scientific question is.
CMDC Labs' Scientific Solutions framework is designed to begin there.
How Can We Help?
Our Scientific Solutions are organized around the types of challenges organizations encounter throughout research, product development, manufacturing, quality, commercialization, and ongoing product improvement.
Scientific Troubleshooting & Failure Analysis
When Something Went Wrong — and You Need to Understand Why
Unexpected results can occur at any stage of a product or process lifecycle.
A product may fail.
A batch may change.
A contaminant may appear.
A material may degrade.
A manufacturing process may begin producing inconsistent results.
The immediate question is often not:
“Which test do we need?”
It is:
“What happened?”
CMDC Labs can bring together relevant laboratory capabilities and scientific expertise to help
investigate potential causes.
Scientific troubleshooting and investigation may include:
- Product Failure Investigation
- Root Cause Analysis Support
- Scientific Failure Analysis
- Contamination Investigation
- Product Spoilage Investigation
- Shelf-Life Failure Investigation
- Product Degradation Investigation
- Manufacturing Process Investigation
- Unknown Compound Investigation
- Unknown Material Investigation
- Material Compatibility Investigation
- Coating Failure Investigation
- Sterility Failure Investigation
- Bioburden Investigation
- Packaging Failure Investigation
- Environmental Contamination Investigation
- Water Quality Investigation
- Ingredient Investigation
- Customer Complaint Investigation
- Failure Reproduction Studies
- Scientific Evidence Collection
- CAPA Scientific Support
The appropriate investigation depends on the product, material, process, available evidence,
and scientific question.
Product Development
Build Better Products With Scientific Data
Laboratory science can provide value long before a product reaches final testing.
During development, scientific information can help organizations understand materials,
formulations, ingredients, performance, stability, biological interaction, manufacturing variables,
and other factors that influence the finished product.
CMDC Labs can support product-development activities including:
- Early Product Evaluation
- Prototype Testing
- Product Characterization
- Material Characterization
- Material Selection Support
- Ingredient Evaluation
- Formulation Investigation
- Comparative Product Testing
- Product Performance Investigation
- Stability Studies
- Shelf-Life Studies
- Analytical Method Development
- Testing Strategy Development
- Design Verification Support
- Product Validation Support
- Commercialization Readiness Support
- Product Improvement Programs
The objective is to use scientific information throughout development rather than waiting until
the end of the process to discover problems.
Scientific Consulting
Scientific Expertise When the Path Forward Is Not Yet
Clear
Some projects require scientific thinking before they require laboratory testing.
Organizations may need help determining:
- What should be investigated?
- Which analytical techniques may be useful?
- What information is missing?
- How should a scientific investigation be structured?
- How can unexpected laboratory results be interpreted?
- What additional data may help answer the question?
- How should a testing strategy be developed?
CMDC Labs can provide scientific consultation to help organizations evaluate these questions.
Consulting support may include:
- Scientific Project Planning
- Testing Strategy Development
- Analytical Approach Development
- Laboratory Method Selection
- Scientific Investigation Planning
- Product Development Strategy
- Failure Investigation Planning
- Data Interpretation
- Product Characterization Strategy
- Research Planning
- Technical Literature Evaluation
- Scientific Documentation Support
Where appropriate, consultation can then transition into laboratory testing or scientific
investigation using CMDC Labs & internal capabilities.
Research & Development
Extend Your Scientific Capabilities Without Building
Another Laboratory
Research organizations, universities, startups, manufacturers, and product-development teams
may encounter scientific questions that require instrumentation, expertise, methods, or
laboratory capabilities that are unavailable internally.
CMDC Labs can function as an external scientific resource for these projects.
Research and development support may include:
- Applied Research
- Contract Research Support
- Proof-of-Concept Studies
- Pilot Studies
- Experimental Design Support
- Technology Evaluation
- Product Innovation Support
- Analytical Research
- Product Characterization
- Materials Characterization
- Method Development
- Method Validation
- Scientific Collaboration
- Specialized Laboratory Studies
- Scientific Project Planning
- Technology Commercialization Support
Projects can range from clearly defined analytical work to collaborative scientific programs
requiring multiple capabilities.
Quality & Regulatory Support
Generate Scientific Information for Quality, Development
& Appropriate Regulatory Objectives
Scientific data plays an important role throughout product development, quality systems,
manufacturing investigations, customer requirements, and regulatory programs.
CMDC Labs can provide laboratory and scientific support for appropriate projects involving:
- Product Validation
- Design Verification
- Method Validation
- Quality Investigations
- Manufacturing Investigations
- CAPA Scientific Support
- Product Characterization
- Testing Strategy Development
- Pre-Market Testing Support
- Scientific Documentation
- Product Quality Investigation
- Laboratory Data Generation
However, regulatory testing can involve requirements beyond the scientific ability to perform an
analysis.
Certain projects may require specific laboratory accreditations, certifications, approved
methodologies, or jurisdiction-specific qualifications.
For this reason, CMDC Labs qualifies projects according to their intended use.
If laboratory results will be submitted to or used for monitoring by a regulatory body, this
should be identified before the project is accepted so the applicable requirements can be
evaluated internally.
Customers do not need to determine which laboratory accreditation or certification is required
before contacting CMDC Labs.
Industry Scientific Solutions
Scientific Problems Look Different in Every Industry
The underlying scientific disciplines may overlap, but the way a problem appears to a customer
can vary dramatically by industry.
CMDC Labs is developing Scientific Solutions around the real challenges encountered by the
organizations we serve.
Agriculture, Dairy & Livestock
Farmers and agricultural organizations may encounter concerns involving soil, water, feed,
product quality, microorganisms, contamination, animal production, environmental conditions, or
unexplained changes.
CMDC Labs supports scientific investigation and laboratory needs across:
- Dairy Operations
- Beef & Livestock
- Poultry
- Fisheries & Aquaculture
- Crop & Agricultural Operations
- Agricultural Product Development
The customer does not necessarily need to know the technical name of the laboratory test.
They can begin by describing what they are observing.
Food & Beverage
Food and beverage organizations face scientific challenges throughout development,
manufacturing, storage, distribution, and quality control.
CMDC Labs can support:
- Food Manufacturers
- Beverage Manufacturers
- Ingredient Companies
- Dairy Processors
- Meat & Poultry Processors
- Product Developers
Projects may involve product quality, contamination, shelf life, ingredients, formulation,
manufacturing consistency, microorganisms, analytical chemistry, product development, or
troubleshooting.
Medical Device & Biotechnology
CMDC Labs & scientific roots include extensive experience in medical devices, materials,
surfaces, biological systems, diagnostics, and product development.
Scientific Solutions can support:
- Medical Device Manufacturers
- Medical Device Startups
- Biotechnology Companies
- Diagnostics Developers
- Product Development Teams
- Research Organizations
Projects may involve materials, surfaces, biological response, microbiology, analytical
chemistry, product characterization, prototype evaluation, verification, validation, failure
investigation, and commercialization support.
Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences
Pharmaceutical and life-science organizations may require analytical, microbiological,
characterization, development, and investigation support throughout research and product
development.
CMDC Labs can support appropriate projects involving:
- Analytical Testing
- Microbiological Evaluation
- Product Characterization
- Method Development
- Method Validation
- Stability Evaluation
- Contamination Investigation
- Product Development
- Scientific Troubleshooting
- Research Support
Environmental & Water
Water and environmental challenges may involve contamination, industrial processes,
manufacturing systems, groundwater, drinking water, wastewater, or environmental
investigations.
CMDC Labs can support appropriate projects involving:
- Water Quality Investigation
- Contaminant Analysis
- Industrial Water
- Process Water
- Groundwater
- Wastewater
- Environmental Investigation
- Manufacturing Water Quality
- Water Treatment Scientific Support
- Environmental Troubleshooting
Projects intended for regulatory monitoring or submission require qualification to determine
applicable laboratory requirements.
Research & Innovation
Scientific research does not always fit within standardized commercial laboratory packages.
CMDC Labs can support universities, research organizations, technology developers, startups,
manufacturers, and innovation teams requiring specialized scientific capabilities.
Support may include:
- Research Laboratory Support
- Contract Research
- Applied Research
- Scientific Collaboration
- Proof-of-Concept Work
- Pilot Studies
- Experimental Programs
- Technology Evaluation
- Product Innovation
- Specialized Analytical Support
Multidisciplinary Science for Complex Problems
Complex problems often cross scientific disciplines.
A contamination investigation may require microbiology and analytical chemistry.
A material failure may require microscopy, spectroscopy, chemical characterization, and
product-history review.
A shelf-life problem may involve microbiology, chemistry, formulation, packaging, storage
conditions, or several factors simultaneously.
A medical device problem may involve materials, surfaces, biological response, microbiology,
manufacturing, or chemical characterization.
An agricultural problem may involve soil, water, microorganisms, contaminants, feed, or
environmental conditions.
CMDC Labs can draw from capabilities across:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Microbiology
- Food Sciences
- Materials Science
- Medical Device Testing
- Sterility & Bioburden
- Water & Environmental Analysis
- Cell & Biological Response
- Product Characterization
- Stability & Shelf Life
- Method Development & Validation
- Scientific Investigation
This multidisciplinary structure allows the scientific approach to follow the problem rather than
forcing the problem into a single laboratory category.
Advanced Analytical Capabilities
Depending on the scientific question, CMDC Labs can apply or combine analytical technologies
and laboratory methodologies including:
- HPLC
- LC-MS/MS
- GC / GC-MS
- ICP-MS
- FTIR
- Raman Spectroscopy
- SEM
- XPS
- Microbiological Methods
- Cell-Based Assays
- Materials Characterization
- Surface Characterization
- Chemical Characterization
- Other specialized analytical approaches
The appropriate method depends on what needs to be understood.
How the Scientific Solutions Process Works
CMDC Labs provides multidisciplinary laboratory services supporting food manufacturers nationwide.
Step 1 — Tell Us About the Challenge
Describe what you know.
You do not need to select a laboratory test first.
Tell us about the product, material, sample, process, system, or scientific question and what you are trying to understand.
Step 2 — Project Qualification
Our team evaluates whether CMDC Labs has the appropriate scientific capabilities and
laboratory qualifications for the project.
We may request supporting information, previous results, product details, photographs, sample
information, or other relevant documentation.
We will also determine whether the results are intended for submission to or monitoring by a
regulatory body.
Step 3 — Define the Scientific Approach
Depending on the project, the next step may involve:
- A defined laboratory test
- Multiple analytical techniques
- Scientific consultation
- Product characterization
- Troubleshooting
- Failure investigation
- Method development
- Research support
- A customized scientific study
Step 4 — Perform the Scientific Work
Once the project scope is established, the appropriate laboratory analysis, investigation,
research, or consultation can begin.
Step 5 — Generate Information That Supports the Next Decision
The purpose of the project is not simply to produce laboratory data.
The objective is to generate scientific information relevant to the question the organization is
trying to answer.
What Information Should You Send Us?
The more context our scientific team has, the easier it is to understand the project.
Where available, useful information can include:
- Description of the problem or objective
- Product or material information
- Sample type
- What changed
- When the issue began
- Previous testing results
- Specifications or expected performance
- Manufacturing information relevant to the problem
- Photographs or supporting documentation
- Known contaminants or suspected causes
- Timeline requirements
- Intended use of the laboratory results
You do not need to have all of this information before contacting us.
Is This Testing for a Regulatory Body?
This is an important part of project qualification.
If laboratory results will be submitted to or used for monitoring by a regulatory body, additional
requirements may apply depending on the project, method, jurisdiction, and regulatory program.
During qualification, CMDC Labs will ask:
Is this testing being performed for submission to or monitoring by a regulatory body?
Yes
No
Not Sure
Customers are not expected to determine which laboratory accreditation or certification is
required.
CMDC Labs will evaluate the project requirements internally before determining whether the
laboratory can appropriately accept the work.
Know Exactly Which Test You Need?
Scientific Solutions are not intended to make straightforward testing complicated.
If you already know the laboratory service, analytical method, organism, analyte, material, or test you require, go directly to our laboratory services.
Not Sure Which Test You Need?
That’s exactly where a Scientific Solutions conversation can begin.
Tell us:
What happened?
What are you trying to understand?
What information do you already have?
What decision are you trying to make?
Our team can review the information and determine whether CMDC Labs has the capabilities to
help.
Bring Us the Question
Some projects begin with a sample.
Others begin with a specification.
And some begin with nothing more than:
“We have a problem and we need to understand what is happening.”
CMDC Labs is building its Scientific Solutions model around all three.
By combining multidisciplinary laboratory capabilities with scientific expertise, investigation, development support, and consultation, we help organizations move from uncertainty toward useful scientific information.
