company laboratory

Company laboratories are categorized into three types: research, development, and test laboratories.1

• Research laboratories conduct both basic and applied research, often supporting the entire company rather than a specific division. A notable example is AT&T Bell Laboratories, which pioneered innovations like the transistor and satellite communications.12
• Development laboratories focus on supporting particular products or processes and typically operate under the division responsible for manufacturing and marketing. They act as problem-solvers, maintaining close ties with various company departments.1
• Test laboratories ensure product quality through analyses of materials and processes. They can serve a single facility, a group of companies, or the entire company, sometimes operating independently of manufacturing.1