4 major types of operational

waste that hospital employees

must eliminate
18 Jan 2017, Nur Syarafina Mohamad Radzi

4 major types of operational waste that hospital employees must eliminate

Taiichi Ohno, a prominent figure better known as the father of Toyota Production System
(TPS) was also well-known for developing a lean manufacturing framework. The idea
behind lean manufacturing is to preserve or increase value with less work done in the
production process. Therefore, this also means that anything that does not increase value
should be considered waste and therefore be eliminated.
When mentioning eliminating waste in the medical field, initial perceptions are probably
that the waste refers to tangible waste, such as organic waste, chemical waste or
disposable medical items. However, here we refer to very different types of waste - mostly
physically intangible, but very important all the same.

1. Time
Time is undoubtedly an essential aspect of healthcare. Time wastage occurs when
patients are made to wait longer than necessary, or when healthcare personnel do not
perform the tasks assigned to them efficiently and on time. This not only interferes with the
flow of operations, but also has the potential to negatively affect patient experience and
satisfaction.

When time is wasted, it reflects a lack of efficiency which translates to low productivity.
This may be caused by poor communication or a lack of proper organisation with regards
to tasks and resources.

2. Motion
Motion waste occurs when there is excessive and unnecessary movement. An example
would be employees needing to travel long distances to get from one place to another,
such as between wards or from the front counter to the doctors office. This will lead to low
productivity, as the staff members could have used the time to work on the tasks assigned
to them instead. Usually, the main cause of motion waste is a problematic layout of the
workplace. However, it may also happen due to processes that are not well-planned.
Addressing this problem may require certain rearrangements or reshufflings to be made in
order to facilitate movement as well as provide ease of access.

3. Inventory space
Failure to utilise space optimally will incur inventory and storage costs. A typical example
is stocking up on medication, equipment and other supplies excessively. This is not
recommended, especially for products with short shelf lives as they will have to be thrown
out once they have reached their expiry date. Unnecessary items which take up inventory
space are also considered waste. Close monitoring and having a systematic method to
organize storage are necessary to address this issue.

4. Talent and skills

The wastage of human potential can occur when the organization fails to recognize and
utilize employees talents, skills and knowledge. Employees may lack proper training; they
may also not be given ample opportunities to realise their potential. It can also happen due
to inappropriate role designation, such as assigning an employee to the wrong tasks. The
consequence is even greater when employees feel disengaged or unsupported, which
could lead to stress, poor performance or burnout.

Minimising wastage is crucial in order to ensure that healthcare operations can run
smoothly without incurring extra costs, time and resources to the healthcare institution, but
at the same time still maintain the highest level of quality services. Systematic waste
elimination can play a role in enhancing employee productivity and satisfaction, but most
importantly, the efficiency of operations would in turn create a positive impact on patient
experience and safety. MIMS

Read more:
Healthcare professionals, what should you consider when choosing a workplace?
(http://today.mims.com/topic/healthcare-professionals--what-should-you-consider-when-
choosing-a-workplace-?country=singapore&channel=gn-health-wellness)
Why should medical practices invest in staff development?
(http://today.mims.com/topic/why-should-medical-practices-invest-in-staff-development-?
country=malaysia&channel=gn-health-wellness)
Healthcare professionals: How do you manage interruptions at work?
(http://today.mims.com/topic/healthcare-professionals--how-do-you-manage-interruptions-
at-work-?country=malaysia&channel=gn-career)

Source:

McGee-Abe, Jason. The 8 Deadly Lean Wastes DOWNTIME. Process Excellence Network. 12 Aug 2015. Web. 10 Jan 2017.

http://www.processexcellencenetwork.com/business-transformation/articles/the-8-deadly-lean-wastes-downtime