Improvement of laboratory turnaround time using lean methodology

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 295-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shradha Gupta ◽  
Sahil Kapil ◽  
Monica Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Industrial Engineering ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Value Stream Mapping ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Laboratory Staff ◽  
Tools And Techniques

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the implementation of lean methodology to reduce the turnaround time (TAT) of a clinical laboratory in a super speciality hospital. Delays in report delivery lead to delayed diagnosis increased waiting time and decreased customer satisfaction. The reduction in TAT will lead to increased patient satisfaction, quality of care, employee satisfaction and ultimately the hospital’s revenue. Design/methodology/approach The generic causes resulting in increasing TAT of clinical laboratories were identified using lean tools and techniques such as value stream mapping (VSM), Gemba, Pareto Analysis and Root Cause Analysis. VSM was used as a tool to analyze the current state of the process and further VSM was used to design the future state with suggestions for process improvements. Findings This study identified 12 major non-value added factors for the hematology laboratory and 5 major non-value added factors for the biochemistry lab which were acting as bottlenecks resulting in limiting throughput. A four-month research study by the authors together with hospital quality department and laboratory staff members led to reduction of the average TAT from 180 to 95minutes in the hematology lab and from 268 to 208 minutes in the biochemistry lab. Practical implications Very few improvement initiatives in Indian healthcare are based on industrial engineering tools and techniques, which might be due to a lack of interaction between healthcare and engineering. The study provides a positive outcome in terms of improving the efficiency of services in hospitals and identifies a scope for lean in the Indian healthcare sector. Social implications Applying lean in the Indian healthcare sector gives its own potential solution to the problem caused, due to a wide gap between lean accessibility and lean implementation. Lean helped in changing the mindset of an organization toward providing the highest quality of services with faster delivery at an optimal cost. Originality/value This paper is an effort to reduce the gap between healthcare and industrial engineering and enhancing the use of lean practices in Indian healthcare. The study is motivated toward implementing lean methodology successfully in services.

Service quality framework for clinical laboratories

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinaysing Ramessur ◽  
Dinesh Kumar Hurreeram ◽  
Kaylasson Maistry
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Medical Practitioner ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Quality Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Laboratory Staff ◽  
Clinical Laboratories ◽  
Quality Framework

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to illustrate a service quality framework that enhances service delivery in clinical laboratories by gauging medical practitioner satisfaction and by providing avenues for continuous improvement. Design/methodology/approach – The case study method has been used for conducting the exploratory study, with focus on the Mauritian public clinical laboratory. A structured questionnaire based on the SERVQUAL service quality model was used for data collection, analysis and for the development of the service quality framework. Findings – The study confirms the pertinence of the following service quality dimensions within the context of clinical laboratories: tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, turnaround time, technology, test reports, communication and laboratory staff attitude and behaviour. Practical implications – The service quality framework developed, termed LabSERV, is vital for clinical laboratories in the search for improving service delivery to medical practitioners. Originality/value – This is a pioneering work carried out in the clinical laboratory sector in Mauritius. Medical practitioner expectations and perceptions have been simultaneously considered to generate a novel service quality framework for clinical laboratories.

What should be lean buffer threshold for the forward-reserve warehouse?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhavin Shah
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Service Level ◽  
Buffer Size ◽  
Value Stream Mapping ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Service Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Just Right

PurposeThe assorted piece-wise retail orders in a cosmetics warehouse are fulfilled through a separate fast-picking area called Forward Buffer (FB). This study determines “just-right” size of FB to ensure desired Customer Service Level (CSL) at least storage wastages. It also investigates the impact of FB capacity and demand variations on FB leanness.Design/methodology/approachA Value Stream Mapping (VSM) tool is applied to analyse the warehouse activities and mathematical model is implemented in MATLAB to quantify the leanness at desired CSL. A comprehensive framework is developed to determine lean FB buffer size for a Retail Distribution Centre (RDC) of a cosmetics industry.FindingsThe CSL increases monotonically; however, the results concerning spent efforts towards CSL improvement gets diminished with raised demand variances. The desired CSL can be achieved at least FB capacity and fewer Storage Waste (SW) as it shifts towards more lean system regime. It is not possible to improve Value Added (VA) time beyond certain constraints and therefore, it is recommended to reduce Non-Value Added (NVA) order processing activities to improve leanness.Research limitations/implicationsThis study determines “just-right” capacity and investigates the impact of buffer and demand variations on leanness. It helps managers to analyse warehouse processes and design customized distribution policies in food, beverage and retail grocery warehouse.Practical implicationsProposed buffering model offers customized strategies beyond pre-set CSL by varying it dynamically to reduce wastages. The mathematical model deriving lean sizing and mitigation guidelines are constructive development for managers.Originality/valueThis research provides an inventive approach of VSM model and Mathematical algorithm endorsing lean thinking to design effective buffering policies in a forward warehouse.

Researchers' judgment criteria of high-quality answers on academic social Q&A platforms

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 603-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Li ◽  
Chengzhi Zhang ◽  
Daqing He ◽  
Jia Tina Du
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Second Stage

PurposeThrough a two-stage survey, this paper examines how researchers judge the quality of answers on ResearchGate Q&A, an academic social networking site.Design/methodology/approachIn the first-stage survey, 15 researchers from Library and Information Science (LIS) judged the quality of 157 answers to 15 questions and reported the criteria that they had used. The content of their reports was analyzed, and the results were merged with relevant criteria from the literature to form the second-stage survey questionnaire. This questionnaire was then completed by researchers recognized as accomplished at identifying high-quality LIS answers on ResearchGate Q&A.FindingsMost of the identified quality criteria for academic answers—such as relevance, completeness, and verifiability—have previously been found applicable to generic answers. The authors also found other criteria, such as comprehensiveness, the answerer's scholarship, and value-added. Providing opinions was found to be the most important criterion, followed by completeness and value-added.Originality/valueThe findings here show the importance of studying the quality of answers on academic social Q&A platforms and reveal unique considerations for the design of such systems.

Intellectual capital and asset quality in an emerging banking market

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Asare ◽  
Margaret Momo Laryea ◽  
Joseph Mensah Onumah ◽  
Michael Effah Asamoah
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Panel Regressions ◽  
Banking Market ◽  
Asset Quality

PurposeThis study examines the causal relationship between intellectual capital and asset quality of banks in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachUsing annual data extracted from audited financial statements of 24 banks from 2006 to 2015, a ratio of non-performing loans to gross loans and advances is employed to estimate asset quality growths while the value-added intellectual coefficient by Pulic (2008, 2004) measures intellectual capital. The panel-corrected standard errors estimation technique is used to estimate panel regressions with asset quality as the dependent variable.FindingsAsset quality of banks in Ghana is generally not affected by intellectual capital. However, when intellectual capital is divided into its components, the study indicates that there are significant positive relationships between asset quality and two components of intellectual capital. Thus, structural capital and human capital efficiencies positively affect the asset quality of banks.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study implore managements of banks to increase structural and human capital investments and efficiencies to improve asset quality. Furthermore, the results have direct implications on developments in financial markets in emerging economies.Originality/valueThe study analyses the link between typical intellectual capital and asset quality of banks which is yet to be empirically examined in an emerging banking market.

Entrepreneurial orientation and burnout among healthcare professionals

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-22
Author(s):  
Claudine Kearney ◽  
Padraic Dunne ◽  
William J. Wales
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Organizational Outcomes ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Content Type

PurposeAmong healthcare professionals, burnout is one of the key challenges affecting organizational outcomes, employee productivity and quality of care. The knowledge of burnout and its root causes and primary contributors continues to grow yet remains limited. In many environments, an entrepreneurial orientation (EO) has been shown to dramatically improve organizational outcomes and performance. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate critical research areas at the intersection of organizational EO and employee burnout within the healthcare sector.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual model which considers how EO has the potential to provide an operational context that may negate, lessen or delay the negative effects of burnout among healthcare professionals, is advanced as a useful focal point to foster research exploring connections between organizational orientation and employee well-being.FindingsInsights into how an opportunity-embracing EO characteristic of high-tech firms may shape how stress is experienced and address burnout when applied to healthcare organizations. A decrease in burnout stands to improve quality of care as well as the satisfaction of staff and patients alike, including a greater sense of autonomy, engagement, motivation and passion.Originality/valueThis research agenda proposes new insights and the need for additional research into how the manifestation of organizational EO may contribute to the field of medicine, influence burnout and enhance the well-being among healthcare professionals.

Lean thinking and higher education management: revaluing the business school programme management

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saad Zighan ◽  
Ahmed EL-Qasem
Keyword(s):  
Business School ◽  
Value Added ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Learning Objectives ◽  
Value Stream Mapping ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
School Students ◽  
Lean Thinking ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThis paper explores the applications of lean thinking in re-evaluating the business school curriculum, syllabus and intended learning objectives to enhance the employability of graduates through identifying and eliminating non–value-added activities.Design/methodology/approachThe research employed multilevel qualitative methodology, where 55 semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data from academics, students and graduates from several private and public universities in Jordan.FindingsThe study finds that the application of lean thinking in the business school is twofold – it helps the developer of the school curriculum to get rid of many superfluous and non–value-added activities and also emphasises and reinforces the value-added activities. Value stream mapping, with a consideration for internal and external outputs, has been found to be a useful tool for developing an employability-focussed curriculum that equips business school students with the required competences and skills in the labour market.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on a qualitative research approach. The generalisability of the findings is difficult to assess, and future research would benefit from the insights obtained from the quantitative dataPractical implicationsIn practice, this study has identified different types of non–value-added and unnecessary activities in business school curriculum and has made suggestions for the development of a more employability-focussed curriculum.Originality/valueThis paper investigates the non–value-added activities of the business school curriculum, syllabus and the intended learning objectives to enhance the employability of graduates in Jordan.

Big data driven multi-tier architecture for electric mobility as a service in smart cities

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1023-1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bokolo Anthony Jnr ◽  
Sobah Abbas Petersen ◽  
Dirk Ahlers ◽  
John Krogstie
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Heterogeneous Data ◽  
Electric Mobility ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electric Cars

Purpose Electric mobility as a service (eMaaS) is suggested as a possible solution to ease transportation and lessen environmental issues by providing a collaborative transport sharing infrastructure that is based on electric vehicles (EVs) such as electric cars, electric bicycles and so on. Accordingly, this study aims to propose a multi-tier architecture to support the collection, processing, analytics and usage of mobility data in providing eMaaS within smart cities. The architecture uses application programming interfaces to enable interoperability between different infrastructures required for eMaaS and allow multiple partners to exchange and share data for making decision regarding electric mobility services. Design/methodology/approach Design science methodology based on a case study by interview was used to collect data from an infrastructure company in Norway to verify the applicability of the proposed multi-tier architecture. Findings Findings suggest that the architecture offers an approach for collecting, aggregating, processing and provisioning of data originating from sources to improve electric mobility in smart cities. More importantly, findings from this study provide guidance for municipalities and policymakers in improving electric mobility services. Moreover, the author’s findings provide a practical data-driven mobility use case that can be used by transport companies in deploying eMaaS in smart cities. Research limitations/implications Data was collected from a single company in Norway, hence, it is required to further verify the architecture with data collected from other companies. Practical implications eMaaS operates on heterogeneous data, which are generated from EVs and used by citizens and stakeholders such as city administration, municipality transport providers, charging station providers and so on. Therefore, the proposed architecture enables the sharing and usage of generated data as openly available data to be used in creating value-added services to improve citizen’s quality of life and viability of businesses. Social implications This study proposes the deployment of electric mobility to address increased usage of vehicles, which contributes to pollution of the environment that has a serious effect on citizen’s quality of life. Originality/value This study proposes a multi-tier architecture that stores, processes, analyze and provides data and related services to improve electric mobility within smart cities. The multi-tier architecture aims to support and increase eMaaS operation of EVs toward improving transportation services for city transport operators and citizens for sustainable transport and mobility system.

Green value stream mapping approach to improving productivity and environmental performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 608-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar ◽  
Javier Santos ◽  
Julio J. Garcia-Sabater ◽  
Alvaro Lleo ◽  
Paloma Grau
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Value Stream Mapping ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Value Stream ◽  
Lean And Green ◽  
Thinking Tools

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce a new methodology called overall greenness performance for value stream mapping (OGP-VSM). Using value-added concepts, this approach has the potential to integrate, measure, control and improve productive and environmental performance in accordance with a company’s context.Design/methodology/approachThe OGP-VSM approach was developed by reviewing and integrating the environmental aspects of existing lean thinking tools and approaches.FindingsThis research revealed the lack of practical integration between productive and environmental performance. Using OGP-VSM, managers can see that environmental practices have a direct impact on productivity. OGP-VSM allows a balance to be found between lean and green practices in order to achieve the simultaneous improvement of productivity and environmental performance.Practical implicationsThe proposed approach is applied to a case study in an automotive company in Spain and lays the groundwork for moving toward functional environmental sustainability in manufacturers.Originality/valueCompanies are increasingly implementing environmentally focused practices. Pursuing environmentally friendly (green) performance poses several challenges, but it also affords opportunities to create new methodologies for generating a competitive advantage for manufacturing companies. There are a limited number of approaches to drawing together the elements and attributes that are essential for a holistic, practical and long-lasting improvement of environmental performance in the manufacturing sector.

Application of Lean Six Sigma in conservative dentistry: an action research at an Indian dental college

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay Noronha ◽  
Shreeranga Bhat ◽  
E.V. Gijo ◽  
Jiju Antony ◽  
Suma Bhat
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conservative Dentistry ◽  
Tools And Techniques

PurposeThe article evaluates the obstacles, lessons learned and managerial implications of deploying Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in a dental college hospital in India.Design/methodology/approachThe work adopts the action research (AR) methodology to establish a case study, which is carried out using the LSS define–measure–analyze–improve–control (DAMIC) approach in a dental college. It uses LSS tools to enhance the productivity and performance of the Conservative Dentistry Department of a dental college and to unravel the obstacles and success factors in applying it to the education and healthcare sector together.FindingsThe root cause for high turn-around time (TAT) is ascertained using LSS tools and techniques. The effective deployment of the solutions to the root causes of variation assists the dental college to reduce the TAT of the Conservative Dentistry process from an average of 63.9 min–36.5 min (i.e. 42.9% improvement), and the process Standard Deviation (SD) was reduced from 2.63 to 2 min. This, in turn, raises the sigma level from 0.48 to 3.23, a noteworthy successful story for this dental college.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the results and recommendations of this research are focused on a single case study, it is to be noted that the case study is carried out with new users of LSS tools and techniques, especially with the assistance of interns. This indicates the applicability of LSS in dental colleges; thus, the adopted modality can be further refined to fit India's education and hospital sector together.Originality/valueThis article explains the implementation of LSS from an aspiring user viewpoint to assist dental colleges and policymakers in improving competitiveness. In addition, the medical education sector can introduce an LSS course in the existing programme to leverage the potential of this methodology to bring synergy and collaborative research between data-based thinking and the medical field based on the findings of this study. The most important contribution of this article is the illustration of the design of experiments (DOE) in the dental college process.

Adoption of Industry 4.0 and lean concepts in hospitals for healthcare operational performance improvement

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tharushi Sandunika Ilangakoon ◽  
Samanthi Kumari Weerabahu ◽  
Premaratne Samaranayake ◽  
Ruwan Wickramarachchi
Keyword(s):  
Process Improvement ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Operational Performance ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Value Stream Mapping ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lean Practices

PurposeThis paper proposes the adoption of Industry 4.0 (I4) technologies and lean techniques for improving operational performance in the healthcare sector.Design/methodology/approachThe research adopted a systematic literature review and feedback of healthcare professionals to identify the inefficiencies in the current healthcare system. A questionnaire was used to get feedback from the patients and the hospital staff about the current practices and issues, and the expected impact of technology on existing practices. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis.FindingsThe results indicate that I4 technologies lead to the improvement of the operational performance, and the perceptions about I4 technologies are made through the pre-medical diagnosis. However, a weak correlation between lean practices and healthcare operational performance compared to that of I4 technologies and operational performance indicate that lean practices are not fully implemented in the Sri Lankan healthcare sector to their full potential.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to two government hospitals, with insights from only the doctors and nurses in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the study is limited to only selected aspects of I4 technologies (big data, cloud computing and IoT) and lean concepts (value stream mapping and 5S). Therefore, recommendations on the adoption of I4 technologies in the healthcare sector need to be made within the scope of the study investigation.Practical implicationsThe implementation of I4 technologies needs careful consideration of process improvement as part of the overall plan for achieving the maximum benefits of technology adoption.Originality/valueThe findings of the research can be used as a benchmark/guide for other hospitals to explore the adoption of I4 technologies, and how process improvement from lean concepts could influence the overall operational performance.

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