Lean, Mean, pAR Optimizing machine!

Bill Brisbane | Intelli-Flip™ Program Manager, LogiQuip®

For the last five months, we’ve been looking at ways to drive efficiency in your Supply Chain.  Last month we talked about supply room organization to make stocking and picking easier and faster.  Now let’s discuss how Change Management and LEAN principles play into this.  

Any time you make changes that affect an entire department, communication and training is key.  These changes will disrupt their daily work lives, so broadly communicating the changes that are coming and when they are coming will help the team to mentally prepare.  Set up training sessions with the affected teams to communicate the upcoming changes, why those changes are happening, and how those changes will affect each team member’s daily work life. The sooner the team gets up and running with these changes, the sooner you will recognize the efficiencies gained by the changes you are implementing.  

Adopt a “6S” mindset in every aspect of your work, including your supply areas.  At its core, 6S is intended to remove waste and keep work areas and supply rooms organized and clean. In addition, it promotes safety, quality, and productivity.  The 6S elements are:

• Sort – remove unnecessary materials/equipment.

• Straighten – make it clear where things belong.  

•  Shine – keep your workspace and supply room clean.

• Standardize – establish policies and procedures.

• Sustain – consistently follow policies and procedures.

• Safety – identify hazards and set preventative controls.

Following a “6S” mindset will help to eliminate waste, improve productivity, and increase efficiency when stocking and picking supplies.    

Thanks for following along for the first half of 2024 with changes you can make so your supply chain is more efficient for the long term.   

Bill Brisbane

Intelli-Flip™ Program Manager

Bill Brisbane is the Intelli-Flip™ Program Manager with LogiQuip® Healthcare Storage Solutions based in Kalamazoo, MI that has exclusively served the healthcare industry for over 30 years. Bill has over 40 years of patient care and supply chain management experience. Initially working in patient care in emergency medicine and then as a Hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy, Bill migrated to supply chain management upon discharge while keeping focus on the main goal of healthcare…what’s best for the patient. He has served as Director of Materials in both full-time and interim roles and has served in Contract Administrator and Value Analysis roles as well. He has also worked as a consultant for both point of use companies and with various healthcare consulting companies, working with hospitals around the country to help improve their operational and financial performance in supply chain management. 

For all your supply chain operations questions, you can contact Bill at [email protected] or visit the LogiQuip® team at logiquip.com

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