First, UC researchers found that a hybrid supply chain model, combining elements of periodic and continuous resupply, could potentially save hospitals 18 percent in labor costs associated with resupply.
Then they studied a joint-replenishment model, in which supply personnel pick up items likely to be needed soon when they pick up requested items. This approach, similar to a Kanban model, would result in an average 38 percent reduction in the need for out-of-cycle replenishment, the researchers found.
Finally, researchers are still studying a model to track entire bins of items. Under this model, personnel track whether a bin is empty or not, which involves a lot less information to process than the specific number of individual items.
Read the University of Cincinnati release on supply chain.
Related Articles on Supply Chain:
4 Ways to Streamline Supply Chain Costs
6 Mistakes ASCs Make When Purchasing Supplies and How to Fix Them
ASCs Should Take Advantage of Their Surgical Supply Distributors
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