Beyond the Data: Building Foundations for Supply Chain Success | Sponsored by BlueBin

A decade-long BlueBin–Montage Health case study showing how lean principles and a two-bin Kanban system stabilize, assess, and continuously optimize hospital supply chain operations through data-driven analytics and clinical partnership.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Explain how core lean principles — standard work, visibility, and cost savings — form the foundation of a sustainable Kanban-based supply chain program.
• Describe the assessment and implementation process for optimizing supply chain operations, including mapping the current state, collecting usage data, identifying pain points, and engaging clinical and support staff.
• Identify the five-category item health framework (healthy, stale, slow, hot, critical) used to analyze inventory performance and guide PAR level adjustments.
• Describe the QCN (Questions, Comments, Needs) governance process departments use to request additions, removals, or changes to a two-bin Kanban system.
• Recognize the staffing model and resource considerations needed to sustain an ongoing Kanban maintenance program.

Author Information

Alicia Sanders, Director of Operations, BlueBin