Motivation as a factor for assessing the implementation of lean manufacturing principles in a clinical diagnostic laboratory

Background: Currently, lean manufacturing is one of the most in-demand topics among Russian production management, including in the field of medical management. Laboratory work is a business process that can be optimized. To objectify the effects of changes, it is advisable to conduct comprehensive assessments, including through auditing.

Aim: The study of the motivation of the staff of the clinical diagnostic laboratory by conducting an audit before the introduction of a culture of lean manufacturing.

Materials and methods: The audit was conducted using two checklists from METLER TOLEDO, developed for medical laboratories: “The 5S list of questions for evaluating the organization of laboratory jobs” and “8 typical types of laboratory losses.” A total of 37 employees were interviewed: 35 women (94.5%) and 2 men (5.5%); the average age was 41±12 years (M±σ), the average work experience was 14.6±9.3 years. Among them are doctors (7 people, 19%), laboratory assistants (24 people, 65%) and nurses (6 people, 16%).

Results: An analysis of the audit data obtained indicates the following features: insufficient knowledge and principles of implementing lean technologies in the workplace are more noted among laboratory assistants than among doctors; the total distribution of points in the clinic indicates a wider spread of points across all points on the checklist, which indicates a lack of standardization and knowledge of this among employees. At the same time, in a 24-hour hospital, scores are distributed almost evenly, which indicates a more standardized workplace organization in a 24-hour hospital, which may be due to shift work, a higher level of responsibility awareness, and the availability of standard procedures.

Conclusion: In the future, it is possible to use the considered checklists, taking into account the experience of employees working in the inpatient department of the laboratory, as a reference for employees of the polyclinic department.