title: [Applying the clustering technique for characterising maintenance outsourcing].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Using clustering techniques for characterising companies providing health institutions with maintenance services.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study analysed seven pilot areas' equipment inventory (264 medical devices). Clustering techniques were applied using 26 variables. Response time (RT), operation duration (OD), availability and turnaround time (TAT) were amongst the most significant ones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average biomedical equipment obsolescence value was 0.78. Four service provider clusters were identified: clusters 1 and 3 had better performance, lower TAT, RT and DR values (56 % of the providers coded O, L, C, B, I, S, H, F and G, had 1 to 4 day TAT values: <TAT < 2.56 days on average). Cluster 0 had medium performance (38 % of providers coded V, M, K, Z, T and Y, having an average 9.79 TAT value). Cluster 2 (6 % - provider J) had low performance, having very a high TAT level (101 days on average).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The methodology allowed medical equipment inventory and maintenance service suppliers to be characterised. The cluster technique was effective in identifying the most competitive suppliers.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia. antonio.cruz43@urosario.edu.co
authors.forename: Antonio M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Sandra P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Usaquén-Perilla
authors.forename: Nidia N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Vanegas-Pabón
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopera
mesh_terms: D001698:Biomedical Engineering / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003284:Contract Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D008284:Maintenance and Engineering, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020416:Outsourced Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*