Redesigning the supply of gasses:co-makership in a hospital

Abstract

Supply chain management in hospitals has been relatively ignored. Due to tight budget constraints attention has been turned to the supply of materials as a possibility to cut costs. This paper describes the operational logistical relation between a hospital an its supplier of gasses and suggests alternatives for a closer, co-makership-like relation. To describe and analyse this relation a supply chain concept is elaborated upon that consists of four areas of attention: physical supply, control and co-ordination, organisation and relation, and information systems. Three scenarios are developed for an alternative design of the supply chain. The approach yields a considerable grow in insight for the two organisations into the logistical operation. We think that the approach is also valuable for the analysis and redesign of the logistical aspects in the supply of goods in other organisations.