Question

COVID 19 impact have disrupted the capacity planning of every Hospital sector. What are some different tactical ways in which the Hospital operations manager, match the supply capacity with increase in demand? [Provide your answer with supporting with appropriate theory for about minimum of 200 words]

Answer 1

COVID 19 has a great impact on across all the sectors. Moreover, It triggers the lockdown in which the economic effect is clearly visible. The healthcare sector is at the center point which hit by this unprecedented epidemic. Capacity planning refers to forecasting the demand and match with supply. Capacity can simply be defined as the ability of a firm to produce, store, or achieve so it can match the demand. Planning plays a very crucial role in forecasting demand and supply, so it can sustain and grow the firm's business.

COVID 19 pandemic has totally changed the very base and scope of capacity planning. Nowadays a strategic capacity planning can be more effective and efficient. Strategic capacity planning refers to measuring the overall operation activity of a firm so it can be helpful in making decision process.

Various tactics that can be useful in matching the supply capacity with an increase in demand -

a) Realistic - An operation manager's decision should be based on ground reality. As the Pandemic prevailing in current situation, operation manager has to forecast and analyze the impact of it on their workforce, resources, and supply chain management. For e.g - If the hospital has only 5 ventilators, then he must work towards the availability of resources and caring staff for available ventilators rather than thinking about converting more beds into the ventilator.

b) Efficiency - An efficient operation manager has to make a balance between the input and output of the resources. He needs to have analyzed the whole operation process and utilize the resource at the optimum level so the process can become more efficient. He works towards minimizing the input cost, improving firm competitive efficiency by selling at a lower price without affecting quality. In this pandemic, Hospitals have to mandatory isolate and treat the Corona patient without considering the profit. So during this time, it is more important for operation manager to make the operation process more viable and efficient.

c) Proper Supply Chain Management - A hospital is dependent on various suppliers such as Medicine Supplier, Outsider Doctors, Bed suppliers e.t.c. In today's situation, almost all the industry and profession has badly affected by COVID 19. The operation Manager needs to design a strategic supply chain planning and implementation process that can maximize the overall production and operation efficiency of a hospital.