Two Shuttle VLMs from Kardex, each standing 23 feet tall, allowed Hillsborough County Fire & Rescue Division to maintain their supply inventory while reducing the footprint by 81 percent.Benefits of Supply Chain Management in Healthcare
In Tampa, Florida keeping 74 Hillsborough County fire departments and stations supplied with medical supplies posed quite a challenge for a new Emergency Management Center facility. The supply chain logistics department operates 24/7 and needed an efficient way to keep up with the demands of all 74 stations.
They needed solutions that would allow them to store all the medical supplies and parts at one location while being quickly accessible. The department turned to Kardex Storage Systems in Jacksonville, Florida for the answer.Automating medical supply and parts inventory management.
The solution needed to optimize space while providing quick and accurate access to all of the materials needed. Two Shuttle VLMs from Kardex, integrated with their “pick-to-light” technology and inventory management provided the right solution.
The VLMs, (Vertical Lift Modules) are controlled by one workstation computer. Once the operator scans or enters a part number an extractor moves up the center column, retrieves the desired tray, and delivers it to the operator. This eliminates walk and search time while improving overall inventory control and reorder points.
Restocking is as easy as picking. The inventory management system selects the location where the new parts will be stored. The TIC, (transition information center) directs the operator to the exact location to stock the part.
Maintaining healthcare inventories while reducing space requirements
Automation allowed for more efficient operation while dramatically reducing the storage space necessary to maintain service levels. Hillsborough County’s supply chain logistics department estimates they reduced the footprint for storage space by 81 percent.
Of the operation’s 6,000-part numbers 3,200 are stored in the new VLMs. The remainder of the heavier parts is stored on standard shelving. The Power Pick Global inventory management system with pick-to-light technology sped up the picking process while increasing accuracy by 99.9 percent.
The LED light bar TIC, (transition information center), indicates the exact cell to pick from and also displays the part number and description, increasing pick accuracy.Fire and rescue units’ equipment is part of healthcare logistics
Not only do these vehicles need consumable medical supplies, but they also need to access parts for the vehicles and medical support equipment. Kardex Storage Systems, serving most of Florida as well as southern Georgia, installed equipment that allowed them to manage both inventories in one system.
Their solution provided better inventory management and control of specialized, high-priced parts and supplies. Download the complete case study below to read more about how Hillsborough County got the help they needed to keep their fire stations and emergency medical department running in Tampa, Florida.
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