Decision Support System for the Application of Lean Healthcare in Stock Management in Health Facilities

The scarcity of consumables in health facilities has important implications for the quality of healthcare services, the user's well-being, and costs. The negative impacts associated with the lack of necessary products for the treatment of patients can be minimized by applying the Lean philosophy to stock management in healthcare facilities. Therefore, an easy-to-use virtual Kanban decision support system with low implementation costs was created. The quantitative model includes the calculation of maximum and minimum stocks for each item and makes it possible to determine the level of urgency for placing orders. This model presupposes the classification of items according to the level of demand, providing, depending on that classification, the quantity to be purchased. The inventory optimization system is described and then tested using the items of a first-aid kit.