Designed to Eliminate Waste: Hospital Design and Layout Using Lean and the Toyota Production System

Session
Potpourri

Author
Brock Husby
Ph.D. Candidate & Lean Six Sigma Coach
University of Michigan College of Engineering & Altarum Institute

Description
The process of Lean/TPS facility design and layout is a new and exciting discipline, and is able to leverage all of the traditional Lean/TPS tools and methods, as well as specialized Lean tools such as 3P. This presentation will include the theoretical, practical, and case study examples to help you prepare for this challenging work.

Abstract
During almost every process improvement event, the realization that the physical layout and design of the facility isn't well integrated with the process comes to the forefront. It is easy to have ones imagination wander to such thoughts as "if I had designed this layout, I could have made this process twice as efficient and effective!" The reality of the exorbitant costs and long lead times to make these changes usually result in leaving these changes out of the event's action register. When an organization has committed to constructing a new building, it represents a unique opportunity to live the dream of designing the physical layout of a facility to be integrated with and facilitate process efficiencies. At the same time, it can be rather intimidating to develop a design and layout for a department and staff that aren't in place yet. The process of Lean/TPS facility design and layout is a new and exciting discipline, and is able to leverage all of the traditional Lean/TPS tools and methods, as well as specialized Lean tools such as 3P. This presentation will include the theoretical, practical, and case study examples to help you prepare for this challenging work.