Question

Propose five means for a Dubai based hospital to adopt LEAN supply chain management processes to optimize service availability during COVID-19 epidemic (5 points). Name five ways how service organizations specifically can apply LEAN (5 points).

Answer 1

The objective of Lean Supply Chain Management is to reduce the operational costs. In order to adopt LEAN Supply chain Management processes, Dubai based hospital should undertake the following measures :

• Sourcing the equipments and products from the right supplier : All the hospital equipments and clinical products used should be sourced from the right supplier who allows flexibility in the orders placed. Bulk purchasing of bandages, cotton, clinical masks, sanitizers, PPE kit also minimize the cost.
• Contract to purchase the products : Products should be purchased with flexible contract. If the inventory is unsold, the supplier should buy it back at a discounted rate. Supplier should allow credit facility to buy the products.
• Managing the products bought in the right way : Products bought should be managed in the right way and economically. There should be no misuse of the products in order to bring down the operational costs.
• Inventory Management : There should be a visual inventory management dashboard installed in the hospital. This would give a proper account of the inventory used and order is placed appropriately to replenish the inventory at the right time so as to avoid out of stock or overstocked condition, both actually increases the operational cost.
• Managing the productivity of the employees : Employees in the hospitals should be engaged appropriately at the right work. For instance, materials management should be done by management professionals rather than by the nurses, so as to improve the productivity.