Implementation Project - Case Study
Shands at the University of Florida, a member of Shands Healthcare, had recently implemented a bar-code based perpetual inventory system for each storage area, surgical suite, and specialty cart located throughout their inpatient surgical areas. They needed to ensure product inclusion and determine flow of inventory in order to develop a strategy for ensuring that the system was properly updating the inventory prior to implementing the system in other areas of the facility.
THE CHALLENGE
1. To determine if all product was included in the system and that a bar-code was generated.
2. To determine if package size was correct in the system.
3. To update quantities.
4. To determine staff utilization.
THE APPROACH
Utilizing the Shands’ system, HISI staff assisted with the following during an approximate three week evaluation period.
1. An initial wall-to-wall inventory of all surgical storerooms, suites, and specialty carts. During this inventory, HISI created the starting inventory counts, identified items not found in the system, and identified and pulled any expired product.
2. Subsequent nightly wall-to-wall inventories of approximately 3 – 5 surgical suites, during which HISI corrected inventory quantities and noted any new product not yet found in the system.
3. In addition to the above noted wall-to-wall inventories, HISI also performed “cycle counts” of 3 – 5 surgical suites. During these cycle counts, HISI noted all items there were in "stockout", to assist in the supply efforts. HISI also inventoried frequently used items, such as surgical drapes, gloves, and gowns.
4. At the end of each inventory and cycle count, HISI generated an inventory report for review by Shands’ staff. This inventory report could then be used to follow the flow of in inventory locations.
THE RESULT
With assistance from HISI, Shands was able to setup a bar-code based perpetual inventory system in its surgical area. Shands was also able determine utilization of the system as well as develop a strategy for optimizing return on its investment.
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