What laser lab usage metrics should a university track?

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Track a balanced set of service, learning, and reliability measures: requested and completed machine hours, unique users, courses and research groups…

Track a balanced set of service, learning, and reliability measures: requested and completed machine hours, unique users, courses and research groups served, wait and turnaround time, no-shows, test-to-production ratio, material use, rework, downtime, cancellations, training completions, and incidents or near misses. Read raw machine hours alongside wait times, unmet requests and job results, not on their own. Laser lab usage metrics in three groups: service, learning and reliability An empty dashboard outline with three labeled groups of blank tiles that carry metric names only and no values. Service: requested hours, completed hours, unique users, courses and groups served, wait and turnaround time, no-shows, cancellations. Learning: test-to-production ratio, training completions, material use, rework. Reliability: downtime, incidents and near misses. Below are two notes: define each metric first, for example whether utilization uses open, staffed or technically available hours; and read raw machine hours alongside wait times, unmet requests and job results. A footer line reads: trends and constraints, not student surveillance; minimum personal data. Service Requested hours Completed hours Unique users Courses, groups served Wait, turnaround time No-shows Cancellations Learning Test-to-production ratio Training completions Material use Rework Reliability Downtime Incidents, near misses Define each metric first Utilization: is the denominator open, staffed or technically available hours? Read raw machine hours alongside waits, unmet requests and job results Trends and constraints, not student surveillance; minimum personal data. A layout with names only: the tiles are empty on purpose, because a number means nothing until you have defined it. Hours in the first two service tiles are machine hours. Report trends and constraints, and collect the smallest amount of personal data you can, following your campus privacy and records policies. Define every metric before collecting it—for example, whether utilization uses open hours, staffed hours, or technically available hours as the denominator. Report trends and constraints, not student surveillance. Use the smallest amount of personal data necessary and follow campus privacy and records policies.