Initiatives

Technology Opportunities II Initiative

This SMI initiative team first developed a supply chain technology maturity model concept that depicts three progressive stages of technology maturity – Operational, Strategic, and Optimizing.  Currently, the Team is focused on creating supporting documentation for the maturity model that will provide a platform for healthcare supply chain professionals to develop strategic technology plans. The document will highlight the relationships between people, processes, and technology while also providing an assessment tool to reveal gaps in a supply chain technology platform. The work of this Team, expected to be completed by Spring 2013, has been selected by AHRMM for a presentation at the 2013 AHRMM Annual Conference in July 2013. 

Perfect Department Index Initiative

Under the leadership of Phil Pettigrew and Stewart Layhe from Denver Health, Larry Malloy from Johnson & Johnson and Paul Higday from Owens & Minor, this team has focused on validating the Perfect Department Index (PDI) methodology that was originally developed by Denver Health based on Perfect Order concepts. Validation of the PDI methodology, which  measures transactional effectiveness of departments supported by supply chain services, involves the pilot testing of the PDI method at five separate provider member organizations. The Team’s current goal is to produce a PDI Manual with detailed instructions that would allow any provider organization to implement PDI as a continuous quality improvement tool. This Team has also further expanded their scope by embarking upon a quest to develop a supply chain optimization diagnostic tool. This envisioned diagnostic tool would use high level performance metrics that enable trading partners to identify opportunities for improvements. The work of this Team is expected to continue through the Fall of 2013 and new Initiative Team members are welcome.  SMI Members interested in joining this Team should contact Dennis Orthman.    

GTIN Synchronization Project

SMI and GS1 Healthcare US are sponsors of this collaborative demonstration project designed to document the sequential steps, challenges, critical success factors, resources consumed, and the benefits realized (operational and financial) by three trading partners that synchronize their master data together using GS1’s Global Trade Item Numbers (GTIN) as the common platform for synchronization of product data.   Phase One work to synchronize product data has been completed with one set of trading partners. Phase Two efforts are expected to focus on identifying process improvements that result from Phase One synchronization.  Additional groupings of trading partners are invited to participate. Any SMI members interested in participating in a Phase One synchronization process should contact Dennis Orthman.

Supply Chain Performance Recognition Rating Project

SMI and the Bellwether League have agreed to collaborate in the creation of a supply chain measurement tool that will consistently measure the quality of a provider’s supply chain program against  an established and accepted set  of healthcare specific  criteria.  SMI staff and leadership are currently in the planning stages of this project. Interested members should contact Dennis Orthman to learn more about this project.

Low Cost Trading Partner Initiative

Lowering the high cost of SG&A in healthcare supply chain has been identified as an area that SMI and its members can positively influence.  SMI staff and members are currently in the planning stages of this project to determine the project mission, approaches, and educational requirements of Initiative team participants. This Initiative is expected to be officially launched at the SMI Spring 2013 Forum. SMI Members interested in participating in this initiative should contact Dennis Orthman for more information.