Taming the supplies and inventory process at Westmead Hospital.
In July 1991, a team within the Clinical Chemistry Department at Westmead Hospital used control charts and other statistical tools to analyze the supplies and inventory process. No single major problem was discovered. Instead, the team found many small problems causing delays and inefficiencies in the process. By developing and implementing multiple solutions, the team was able to streamline the process and reduce the number of principal suppliers.


RESULTS
The number of principal suppliers was reduced by two-thirds. The average number of "urgent" orders, which add extra steps to the purchasing process, was reduced by three-quarters. The mean turnaround time for common clinical chemistry laboratory tests improved by 8%.
Proos
A
A
Sutton
D
D
Burnett
L
L
Shaw
W
W
D003625:Data Collection; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006785:Hospitals, University; D007445:Inventories, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008330:Management Audit; D008332:Management Quality Circles; D009517:New South Wales; D011682:Purchasing, Hospital; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*