pneumatic tubes final slides 02dec
TRANSCRIPT
Pneumatic Tube Delivery
System Optimization
Shawn Kozey
Benjamin Schneider
Andrew Huettner
ENMA 6050
Fall 2009
System Function
A hospital uses a
pneumatic delivery
system.
The system is used
to quickly send small
items throughout the
hospital.
◦ i.e. like a drive through
at a bank
Problem
Tubes are needed to send items through
the delivery system.
The pharmacy does not always have tubes
available to send.
Consequently the pharmacy must devise
ways to obtain tubes.
◦ Send out a page
◦ Collect them manually
Problem Importance
The pharmacy delivers prescriptions.
If pharmacy cannot count on tube system
to make deliveries in a timely manner:
◦ Time is wasted
Deliveries can be made more quickly by tube than
by hand
◦ User satisfaction is negatively impacted
Team Goal
Identify reasons why the pharmacy
frequently lacks tubes.
Suggest and prioritize methods to
eliminate the pharmacy’s lack of tubes
TUBES NOT RETURNING
TO PERSON A
PEOPLE
ENVIORNMENT
PROCESSEQUIPMENT
MANAGEMENTMATERIALS
TUBE SYSTEM
SENDING TUBES SENDING TUBES
TUBES
A (PHARMACY)
NOT ENOUGH
NOT WORKING
SENDS THE MOST TUBES
SYSTEM DOWN
FOR MAINTENANCE
TUBE STUCK IN
SYSTEM
RECEIVING TUBES
RETURNING TUBE INTO SYSTEM
REQUESTING TUBES
PHONE
PAGE
TUBE SENT TO WRONG
LOCATION
B (LAB)
C (NURSING STATION)
RECIEVES THE MOST TUBES
RECIEVES AND SENDS TUBES
THE SAME
INABILITY TO CONTROL THE
SUPPLY OF TUBES
DOESN’T MOTIVATE PEOPLE
TO RETURN TUBES
PROCESS MANGEMENT AT
EACH STATION
ALLOCATE FUNDS
OPTIMIZE SOFTWARE
METHOD OF WEIGHT
STATIONS
USE CORRECT NUMBER OF TUBES
REQUESTING TUBES
PHONE CALL
PAGE
RECEIVING TUBES
DOESN’T FOLLOW PROCEDURE
RETURNING TUBES INTO SYSTEM
OUT FOR REPAIR
LATCHING
FILLING
HORDING TUBES
Person B decides what to do
with tube (carrier) after
receiving it. RPN = 512
Action
Tubes were sent,
but not returned
Effect
People who need
carriers do not have
them.
Condition
Person B does not
have enough time to
send tube back.
Action
Person B panicked last
time he needed to send
a tube
Action
Person B urgently
needs to move on to
the next task
Action
Person B does
not return tube Condition
Person B is not
aware that a tube
shortage exists
Action
Person B does not
feel the need to
return a tube
Condition
Person B is focused on
present time management,
not feeling he has time for
“nice-to-haves”
Condition
Receiver (person B)
hordes tubes
Condition
No tubes were available
to send.
Action
Person B sends
more tubes than he
receives
Condition
Person B does not
receive a tube back for
each tube he sends
Before/After Corrective Action
ComparisonTube Project FMEA
Ranked List of Failures
Activity RPN
Item sender requests tubes 120
Investigate tube arrival 160
Plant maintenance optimizes tube system software 280
Tube usage procedure 320
Send an item in a tube 320
Determine needed number of tubes 420
Tube receiver (B) deceides what to do with tube after having received a sent item 512
Tube Project FMEA
Ranked List of Failures After Corrective Action
Activity RPN
Investigate tube arrival 48
Item sender requests tubes 80
Send an item in a tube 128
Tube usage procedure 160
Plant maintenance optimizes tube system software 168
Determine needed number of tubes 187
Tube receiver (B) deceides what to do with tube after having received a sent item 200
One week
period
System
(min)
Pharmacy
(min)
Avg lift time 1:17 1:16
Avg travel time 1:59 1:48
Recommendations Ranked by
Priority Create written procedure to help enforce, and post at each station
◦ This is the most cost effective and easy to implement solution Topics covered in written procedure include
Sending tubes back
Using 0-0 command
Latch properly
Don’t overstuff
Determine needed number of tubes
Minimize tube downtime◦ # of tubes out for repair vs. total # of tubes is quite high
Are current tubes a robust design?
Lack of manpower to repair tubes
◦ More efficient solution to fix tubes Velcro
Latches
◦ Tube design cost vs. benefit analysis Criteria to include length of service, frequency of repair, availability of repair parts, ease of repair
Tube Examples
Recommendations Ranked by
Priority Cont.
Optimize software◦ Set priority of each station
Determines 0-0 command
Determines lift time
◦ Max number of tubes per station (alarm setting)
Evaluate system upgrade fund allocation◦ Better tubes
◦ Better software (statistician)