EFFEKTIVISERING AV MATERIALHANTERINGSPROCESSEN TILL OCH FRÅN SERVICEAVDELNING I SJUKHUSMILJÖ

Sammanfattning: Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the challenges that exist within thematerial handling process, to and from a department for service and maintenance at a hospital, and how the challenges can be managed to achieve a more efficient material handling process. In order to fulfill the purpose the following two questions where formulated: 1. What challenges exist within the material handling process, to and from adepartment for service and maintenance at a hospital? 2. How can the challenges be managed to achieve a more efficient materialhandling process? Method – To achieve the purpose of the study, a case study was conducted at Ryhov Hospital in Jönköping. The case study was conducted through interviews, observations and document studies. The collected data has been interpreted and analyzed against a theoretical framework and thus generated the study’s results. Findings – The challenges identified in the study have been divided into five different categories: lack of process efficiency, lack of information exchange, lack ofcollaboration, variations and individually dependent deficiencies. Tools to deal with the challenges include developing a more holistic view and developing a higher degree of standardization and routinisation. Additionally, the introduction of a coordinating transport organization is introduced, thus creating the conditions to simplify and streamline the material handling process, streamline information exchange, develop cooperation and make it easier to handle variations and individually dependent deficiencies. Implications – During the study the challenges for the material handling process in ahealth care context were divided into five different categories. The methods and tools used to manage the challenges have different traits and characteristics. While trying to make the material handling process more efficient it is important for each organization to take into account the challenges that are the most critical to improve their specific situation. Limitations – The aim of this study was to create a deeper understanding for the problem area by studying a case. A single case study, however, is an unsecure foundation for creating generalizable results. It had been desirable to make further case studies in other hospitals. The focus has also been on the material handling process to and from the service organization, and it could have been interesting to broaden the perspective to get more insights. Keywords – Material handling process, Healthcare, Logistics, Internal logistics