Waste watchers learning the lean routine in clinical laboratories

College of American Pathologists:

It's much more fun to think about what could be (lean healthcare) than what was (GM's dominance in the auto industry). The early stages of a lean laboratory sound very much like the early lean stages at our factory, although we don't always use video tape for standard work analysis.

“At the outset, management observed that the equipment layout did not allow for a smooth workflow and that testing was batched in many islands of work, Panning said.

The Lean team videotaped workers to document their processes, walking patterns, and workflow, capturing the details of every task.”

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Mark Graban

Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, author, and professional speaker who has worked in healthcare, manufacturing, and startups. His latest book is Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More. He is author of the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, as well as The Executive Guide to Healthcare Kaizen. He also published the anthology Practicing Lean that benefits the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation, where Mark is a board member. Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the technology company KaiNexus.

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