Projects

Intelligent Management of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) for ad-hoc Surgical Instrument Conveyance

Project Categories

Care Process & Redesign

Technology

Platform

Singapore Healthcare Management Congress

Cluster

National University Health System

SingHealth

31 December 2022

Optimize AGV docking locations and configurations to minimize costs, maximize utilization, and shorten breakeven periods. Improved efficiency and cost savings with optimized AGV deployment in surgical instrument conveyance.

Year Submitted: 2022
Published Date: 31 December 2022

Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Technology, Operational Management, Logistics Management, Value Based Care, Utilisation, Productivity, Cost Saving, Digitalisation, Automation, Robotics Process Automation

About this Content

Aims

Optimize AGV docking locations and configurations to minimize costs, maximize utilization, and shorten breakeven periods.

Background

Nurses spent 20% of their time fetching instruments, causing inefficiencies. AGVs were proposed to streamline processes and save resources.

Methods

Simulation modeling to test scenarios, lifecycle cost analysis, and optimization of docking locations for AGVs.

Results

Optimal setup: 2 AGVs with 10 daily restocking trips; utilization achieved: 94.1%. Breakeven period significantly shortened.

Conclusion

Improved efficiency and cost savings with optimized AGV deployment in surgical instrument conveyance.

Lessons Learnt

Comprehensive planning and testing ensure successful AGV implementation in healthcare logistics.

Additional Information

2nd Prize (Supply Chain Management) at SHM Congress 2022.

Keywords

Healthcare Logistics, AGVs, Optimization

Innovators' Details

Healthcare Cluster(s)	SingHealth, National University Health System
Organization(s) Involved	National University of Singapore, Singapore General Hospital
Platform(s)	Singapore Healthcare Management Congress
Healthcare Professional Group(s)	Healthcare Administration
Applicable Specialty or Discipline	Healthcare Administrators, Surgery
Project Lead(s)	Francis Ngoc Hoang Long Nguyen
Project Member(s)	Daniel Tiang Chuanwen Zhu Zan Zan Franklin Tan Chee Ping Zhang Yixing Ge Yao Lie Yi Sien Goh Jing Kang Goh Meh Meh Shirlena Wong Tieu Kwee Shao Wei Sean Lam Koh Yexin Henry Ho Sun Sien

Connect with this contributor!

Francis Ngoc Hoang Long Nguyen - singaporehealthcaremanagement@singhealth.com.sg

Project Attachment

C_763_SHS_SHM_2022_Intelligent_Management_of_AGVs_for_ad_hoc_Surgical_Instrument_Conveyance.pdf