Method Development at RJ Lee Group

Precise and reliable analytical methods are essential in the ever-evolving landscape of scientific research, environmental health & safety, and industrial applications. As a testament to our scientists' knowledge and experience, RJ Lee Group personnel frequently contribute to developing new analytical testing methods.

What is Method Development?

Method development refers to creating, optimizing, and validating analytical procedures to ensure they produce accurate and reproducible results. This involves selecting the appropriate techniques, instruments, and conditions to analyze specific substances or materials.

Companies develop methods to analyze materials for health and safety, quality control, and research. Regulatory agencies, industry groups, and professional organizations develop methods to establish standards across an industry or geography. RJ Lee Group has decades of experience consulting on developing proprietary and industry standards alike.

Method Development for Organizations

The goal of method development is simple: consistency. Establishing a method ensures credibility and reliability because the analysis is done in the same way, using the same tools and techniques, every time. As long as the method is followed, results can be confidently compared regardless of who performed the analysis or when. Here are just some of the ways that an organization can use methods to improve operations:

• Multiple Locations: A machinery manufacturer with plants in different states uses a method for raw material testing to ensure that each facility measures to the same standard.
  
  
• Employee Turnover: A steel producer experiencing technician turnover in its QC lab uses standard methods to train new hires, ensuring continuity of operations quickly.
  
  
• Troubleshooting: A pharmaceutical manufacturer identifies an inconsistency in production and quickly isolates the issue to a specific machine, minimizing downtime and client impact.
  
  
• Supplier Management: A chemical company tests raw materials from different suppliers to ensure incoming goods meet specifications before production.
  
  
• Research and Development: A cosmetics company tests the stability of new formulations across multiple trials to accelerate R&D and bring new products to market faster.
  
  
• Maintenance: A power generation company analyzes turbine oil samples for wear metals and degradation products to predict equipment failure and schedule preventative maintenance.
  
  
• Process Control: A mining company uses elemental ore analysis to help optimize extraction processes and improve yield predictions.

At RJ Lee Group, we understand that each customer has unique requirements and challenges. To meet these specific needs, we offer the development of custom analytical methods tailored to individual client specifications. Our experienced scientists collaborate closely with customers to understand their goals and design methods that provide accurate and reliable results.

By offering custom method development, RJ Lee Group ensures that our clients receive solutions that are scientifically sound and aligned with their specific requirements. This personalized approach helps our clients achieve their goals more effectively and supports their success in various industries.

Method Development for Industry

A regulatory body's goal in developing a method is to achieve consensus among experts and industry stakeholders. By creating a repeatable process and an agreed-upon standard for testing, the body provides a benchmark to ensure consistency, reliability, and credibility.

An individual scientist or company often performs the initial work. Still, once the need for a standard is identified, an organization such as ISO (International Organization for Standardization), ASTM International, ANSI (American National Standards Institute), or EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) will form a technical committee to draft the standard. This committee will include subject matter experts, scientists, and industry representatives.

The draft standard undergoes a rigorous review process, often including public comment periods and multiple rounds of revision to address technical concerns and practical implementation challenges. Once finalized, the standard is published and adopted, often becoming the foundation for regulatory compliance, quality assurance programs, and cross-laboratory comparability.

Adherence to these standardized methods benefits everyone involved—from scientists and manufacturers to regulators and consumers. It minimizes variability in results, facilitates global trade, supports innovation by providing a clear testing framework, and enhances confidence in data used for decision-making.

As an industry-leading testing laboratory, RJ Lee Group has a long history of helping develop many of the industry standards used today. We are justifiably proud of our scientists and their work to ensure quality, safety, and consistency. A few examples of trust that regulatory agencies place in our people include:

• Richard J. Lee - Served on numerous committees of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) where he participated in defining many of the analytical methods that are in use in cement, concrete, asbestos research, air quality and the steel industry today.
  
  
• Matthew Sanchez – Developed a microscopy method for identifying and quantifying coal ash residues to assist in cleanup efforts following containment failures. This methodology has been accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ​
  
  
• Michael J. Deible, Ph.D. – Serves as Vice Chair of Subcommittee D19.06 of ASTM, focusing on studying organic substances in water. He has also led the establishment of standard methods for quantifying Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in consumer products. ​
  
  
• Alan Levine, Ph.D. – Designed novel methods for analysis on atomic absorption spectroscopy, emission spectroscopy, gas chromatography, high-pressure liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, thermo-gravimetric analyses, and scanning electron microscopy. 

Our Comittement

RJ Lee Group’s commitment to method development underscores our dedication to scientific excellence and industry advancement. By actively contributing to the creation and refining of standardized testing methods, our experts help set the foundation for accuracy, reliability, and regulatory compliance across multiple industries.

Whether supporting environmental initiatives, advancing materials science, or ensuring product safety, our team’s expertise continues to shape the standards that drive progress.