Six Sigma Application in Healthcare Logistics: A Framework and A Case Study

Abstract

Six Sigma is used heavily in various industrial sectors, yet no noticeable applications are seen in healthcare logistics. This paper reveals the special case of healthcare logistics where cost reduction is not the only factor considered in project selection; performance and criticality of each item in the logistics system are of high importance as well. This paper provides a proposed framework to apply Six Sigma in the area of healthcare logistics. It also presents a case study implementing the proposed framework at a Jordanian hospital. In the case study, the paper reveals how the modifications of the define phase to take into consideration the criticality, cost, and performance of items make typical Six Sigma methodology very beneficial for healthcare logistics. In addition, it shows how the Six Sigma project selection can be done to deal effectively with healthcare logistics issues. This paper paves the road for research to elaborate on ways to use Six Sigma in the area of improving healthcare logistics.

Lean six sigma implementation, a systematic literature review

“…49 (Al-Qatawneh et al, 2019) to apply Six Sigma in the field of health care logistics so it is necessary to propose a framework Jordan This work expresses the idea of prioritizing all stored items based on performance, cost and criticality in hospital management.…”

Application of Variable Statistics Methods for Assessing the Medical Personnel Activity

“…«Шість сигм» -це підхід до вдосконалення виробництва (медичного обслуговування) через пошук і виключення причин помилок або дефектів у процесах, через зосередження на критично важливих для споживача (пацієнта) вихідних параметрах. Ця концепція набула вжитку у фармацевтичній галузі, у логістиці медичних закладів, у боротьбі з внутрішньолікарняними інфекціями, лабораторних медичних обстеженнях тощо [5,13]. На жаль ця практика активно реалізується за кордоном і не набула широкого вжитку у нас в країні.…”

A Review Paper on Simulation Based Six Sigma Approach in Quality Assurance

“…As we all know that logistics systems for health are very complicated because products are classified into groups based on patients care. The important factor that make logistic complex is the criticality of items that are used for patient's life threatening situations but six sigma by its important factors solve this problem and support the problems related to hospital logistics [3].…”