Application of Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare: A Graduate Level Directed Project Experience
- Conference
- Location
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Vancouver, BC
- Publication Date
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June 26, 2011
- Start Date
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June 26, 2011
- End Date
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June 29, 2011
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Engineering Technology
- Page Count
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9
- Page Numbers
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22.213.1 - 22.213.9
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--17494
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/17494
- Download Count
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746
Paper Authors
Afsheen Mozammel Purdue University, Calumet
Afsheen Mozammel is a graduate student at Purdue University Calumet in Engineering Technology. She has three years of corporate experience in Supply Chain Management in Telecommunication field. She is also an instructor in Organizational Leadership & Supervision and Engineering Technology departments. She is working as a process improvement analyst in Lean Six Sigma at a major retail organization and has joined Purdue University Calumet as limited term lecturer .
Lash B. Mapa Purdue University, Calumet
Lash Mapa have worked in industry as a Process Control Engineer, Quality Assurance Manager prior to joining Purdue University Calumet. In addition he had been an Engineering & Original Equipment Manager, with responsibility of maintaining quality in automotive, mining, military and off-road vehicle components. Currently, he is the course instructor for Project Management, Statistical Quality Control at both undergraduate and graduate level. As of 2004, in collaboration with Purdue system wide faculty and consultants developed the Black Belt segment of the Six Sigma training curriculum. He has acted as a project mentor/trainer for over thirty yellow, green and black belt projects in manufacturing, service, healthcare and education segments.
Susan Scachitti Purdue University, Calumet
Susan Scachitti is a Professor of Industrial Engineering Technology at Purdue University Calumet. Professor Scachitti consults and teaches in traditional areas of Industrial Engineering which include Total Quality techniques and organizational change, methods engineering (including Lean methods), facility layout, process improvement, simulation and ergonomics. Prior to working in education, she spent ten years in various engineering and supervisory roles in the telecommunications industry which focused on high volume electronics manufacturing. Her accomplishments include implementation of Total Quality principles including Lean Manufacturing concepts, Demand Flow Technology, self-directed work teams and various other techniques that improve overall process efficiencies within the organization. Also, she held key roles in successfully attaining ISO9001 certification, establishing a benchmark for a self-directed workforce, conducting economic analysis and cost justifications for new manufacturing technologies as well as utilizing various other industrial engineering concepts to reduce cycle times and increase production efficiencies. Since 2004, Professor Scachitti has focused her efforts towards applying Industrial Engineering concepts to improve Healthcare and other non-traditional service environments using Lean and Six Sigma methods.
Abstract
Application of Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare – A Graduate Level Directed Project Experience Continuous change in complex healthcare environments is a challenge for nurseleaders, but it can also be an advantage. Change can leverage the introduction ofinnovations that improve the quality of care delivery. It all depends on how change ismanaged. Six Sigma and Lean are two powerful performance improvementmethodologies that are changing the face of modern healthcare delivery. From theemergency room to the board room, Lean Six Sigma (LSS) can reduce variability andtherefore waste - fewer errors, better processes, improved patient care, greater patientsatisfaction rates and more productive employees that translate to bottom-lineimprovement. LSS is a combination of Lean methods and Six Sigma approaches and itbuilds on the knowledge, methods and tools derived from decades of operationalimprovement research and implementation. In this project the workload of Nursing ShiftDirectors’ (NSD) has been analyzed. NSD are responsible for the administrative directionof the healthcare facility including serving as a clinical resource person, interpreting andenforcing policies and procedures, intervening in difficult situations and medical crises,having overall responsibility for appropriate utilization of nursing personnel and forpatient placement, and serving as a liaison to facilitate communication and problemsolving within the healthcare facility. The purpose of this study is to (a) create a baselinemetric of the existing process, (b) collect operational data and analyze ways to improvethe work efficiency by eliminating the non-value added tasks from the daily workload, (c)automate some of the tasks performed by NSD and (d) monitor and provide controlmethodologies for sustainability.
Mozammel, A., & Mapa, L. B., & Scachitti, S. (2011, June), Application of Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare: A Graduate Level Directed Project Experience Paper presented at 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Vancouver, BC. 10.18260/1-2--17494
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