Tool For Continuous Improvement Research Articles

Untangling the cumulative impact of big data analytics, green lean six sigma and sustainable supply chain management on the economic performance of manufacturing organisations

Big data analytics provides up-to-date information to facilitate organisational decision-making and boost economic performance. However, an organisation’s big data analytical capability must be investigated to determine its importance in driving economic performance through continuous improvement and sustainability-related tools such as green lean six sigma and sustainable supply chain management. We conducted an empirical study and obtained 443 effective responses from managerial staff working in small and medium-sized organisations in Pakistan. Using structural equation modelling and artificial neural networks, we investigate the effects of big data analytics, green lean six sigma and sustainable supply chain management on economic performance. Our result shows that green lean six sigma and sustainable supply chain management partially mediate the relationship between big data analytics and economic performance. Although the implementation of sustainable supply chain management is identified, it is supported by technological but not cultural compatibility in the current operating environments of the organisations. As a theoretical contribution, this study enriches the literature on digitisation by relating it to the dynamic capability theory. As per practical contribution, this study reveals that the amalgamation of big data analytics, green lean six sigma, and sustainable supply chain management strengthen the organisation’s economic performance.

Lean transportation tools towards waste reduction and digital transformation in the offshore industry: an action-research

Purpose To address the absence of Lean in transportation logistics in the digital era, this study aims to investigate the application of Lean transportation (LT) tools to reduce waste and facilitate the digital transformation of dedicated road transportation in the offshore industry. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts action research with a multimethod approach, including a scoping review, focus groups (FG) and participant observation. The research is conducted within the offshore supply chain of a major oil and gas company. Findings Implementing LT’s continuous improvement tools, particularly value stream mapping (VSM), reduces offshore transportation waste and provides empirical evidence about the intersection of Lean and digital technologies. Applying techniques drawn from organisational learning theory (OLT), stakeholders involved in VSM mapping and FGs engage in problem-solving and develop action plans, driving digital transformation. Waste reduction in loading and unloading stages leads to control actions, automation and process improvements, significantly reducing downtime. This results in an annual monetary gain of US$1.3m. The study also identifies waste related to human effort and underutilised digital resources. Originality/value This study contributes to theory and practice by using action research and LT techniques in a real intervention case. From the lens of OLT, it highlights the potential of LT tools for digital transformation and demonstrates the convergence of waste reduction through Lean and Industry 4.0 technologies in the offshore supply chain. Practical outputs, including a benchmarking questionnaire and a plan-do-check-act cycle, are provided for other companies in the same industry segment.

Factors That Impact the Dynamics and Effectiveness of Work Teams during the Implementation of Continuous Improvement Tools in the Manufacturing Industry: A Systematic Literature Review

Currently, because of global competition, companies within the manufacturing industry must implement new organizational and production techniques to compete and stay active. The use of continuous improvement tools has become an opportunity and an effective strategy to achieve this. However, there is evidence that many continuous improvement programs are not successfully implemented due to a lack of information related to human management during the implementation of these projects in the manufacturing industry. In this context, the objective of this research is to identify factors influencing the dynamics and effectiveness of work teams for the implementation and development of continuous improvement tools in the manufacturing industry. A literature review was conducted using the PRISMA method, considering scientific articles related to the main factors that affect the dynamics and effectiveness of work teams in relation to the implementation of continuous improvement tools. From the review and evaluation of the studies, 60 factors were identified that affect the effectiveness of work teams in relation to continuous improvement within the manufacturing industry. Subsequently, a Pareto analysis was conducted on the critical success factors based on the number of occurrences in the analyzed literature, identifying 32 critical success factors considered vital for the implementation of continuous improvement projects. It is concluded that the factors arise from two common elements, the involvement of senior management and the company’s own culture. Therefore, to ensure the effectiveness of work teams and their continuous improvement projects, management must focus attention on this cultural change mainly by providing the necessary resources for the development of the project, establishing an adequate and effective reward system, and, most importantly, directing efforts towards staff empowerment.

Poboljšanje Lean angažmana kroz korišćenje poboljšane komunikacije, prepoznavanja i digitalizacije tokom pandemije Kovid-19 u postrojenju za mašinsku obradu pogonskih sklopova JLR

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, many companies around the world continued to implement and drive adherence to Lean principles. However, there are a number of key challenges each company would face when implementing Lean, one of those main challenges being workforce engagement. One way of measuring the engagement of Lean principles is by assessing adherence. In manufacturing organisations around the world, there are differing motivations, and these can be dependent on a number of aspects, such as culture and organisational structure. Therefore, it is imperative to understand employees' motivations in relation to the adherence to Lean principles. This 3-year study of Lean principles assesses the adherence in Jaguar Land Rover's (JLR) Powertrain Machining Facility. It also examines methods of instigating a new recognition process, developing an improved communication method, and creating digital solutions to training issues. The main achievement of the research is improving the adherence to the Lean principles, improving adherence to standardised working practices, and improving the utilisation of problem-solving and continuous improvement tools.

Continuous improvement of the assembly process of an automotive part applying lean manufacturing tools

The object of research: The analysis of the entire assembly process of any automotive part is of utmost importance, given that optimizing any indicator such as time, cost, labor, materials, among others, will allow increasing the productivity and efficiency of the companies.
 Investigated problem: analyze how to reduce cycle time in the assembly process of an automotive part that is sold to Ford, this with the purpose of reducing costs and delivery times by making use of industrial engineering tools, specifically techniques related to lean manufacturing.
 The main scientific results: the assembly process of the upper B Post of the F-CX727 platform was optimized, through continuous improvement tools, improving indicators such as the reduction of cycle time and the cost of the product sold to the customer.
 The scope of practical application of the research results: auto parts companies specialized in the manufacturing of products for the automotive industry require the application of continuous improvement tools necessary to balance assembly lines and make incremental improvements in an organization.
 Innovative technological product: The use of soft techniques and methodologies allows a company to be flexible in its assembly system, this allows it to generate value in its processes as well as the control and reduction of key efficiency indicators.
 Scope of the innovative technological product: the scope of the research work is basically to present the development of continuous improvement techniques for an assembly product made in an auto parts industry in Mexico with the purpose of optimizing the process.

Measuring Impact of Lean Manufacturing Tools for Continuous Improvement on Economic Sustainability

Measuring Impact of Lean Manufacturing Tools for Continuous Improvement on Economic Sustainability

Effectiveness of the use of open-ended questions in student evaluation of teaching in an engineering degree

Purpose: The purpose of our research is to show the point of view of the members of the Board concerning advantages, disadvantages and effectiveness of open ended questions used as a complement to closed response questionnaires.Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, we will describe a pilot experience carried out at a Spanish public university where a short questionnaire with open ended questions was launched, and students were invited to comment on their perception of the teaching received.Findings: The response return rate (about 35%) was relatively high compared to other online closed response questionnaires delivered. Moreover, the students’ comments provided valuable information which made the members of the Board of the Engineering Degree chosen reflect. Their reflection was evidence based and led to initiatives and actions to improve the quality of teaching, as well as to get an extensive view of the Degree.Practical implications: Findings reveal that the information retrieved can also be used in multiple ways such as formative feedback or even for improvement of courses and instruction. Originality/value: Student evaluation of teaching is a powerful tool for continuous teaching improvement but the information provided by conventional closed response questionnaires may not be sufficient.

Real-World Application: Six Sigma Quality Tools for Continuous Performance Improvement in Specific Educational Practices: A Systematic Review

The education sector is continuously seeking new approaches to improve the existing educational process while reducing instances of failure. Recently, the use of Six Sigma quality tools as a continuous improvement tool has proven to be a promising solution. To investigate the effectiveness of this method, a systematic literature review was conducted to summarize relevant empirical data on Six Sigma quality tools in education. This systematic review follows the PRISMA criteria (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis) and utilizes three major databases: Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, and Dimensions. Eleven articles met the given criteria, and the empirical results revealed that Six Sigma quality tools – including Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs and Customers (SIPOC), Pareto analysis, Fish Bone technique, Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), and Statistical Process Control (SPC) – could be used in institutions to meet practitioners’ requirements and achieve the desired quality standards. This study will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the benefits of Six Sigma quality tools in education as well as the ways in which they can be used to improve educational quality for students. Six Sigma quality tools are an innovative and promising approach to improving education. As indicated by the findings, further research is recommended to assess the use of the Six Sigma quality tools in evaluating educational interventions in various educational settings, especially at the school level, in order to verify significant improvements in educational quality and, ultimately, better student outcomes.

The benchmarking implementation and management control process as influenced by interplay of environmental and cultural factors: institutional and contingency perspectives

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of environmental and cultural factors on the benchmarking implementation process and management control within organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). By exploring the complex interplay of these factors, the study aims to uncover how environmental considerations and cultural dynamics shape the effectiveness and outcomes of benchmarking initiatives in the UAE's unique business environment. The research seeks to provide valuable insights for organizations in the UAE to optimize their benchmarking practices and enhance their overall performance and competitiveness.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to comprehensively explore the influence of environmental and cultural factors on benchmarking implementation and management control in the UAE. This study draws on the integration of two main theoretical perspectives: institutional theory and contingency theory. This is the first attempt to integrate these different frameworks in a single study. The study presents a case study of Emirates Industrial City (EIC), which has been recognized by global industries for boosting efficiency, cost control, quality and overall operations. The quality method known as benchmarking maximizes the potential for organizations to achieve optimal levels of production efficiency.FindingsThis paper provides compelling evidence that the benchmarking implementation process and management control in the UAE are significantly influenced by the complex interplay of environmental and cultural factors. By recognizing the importance of environmental sustainability and cultural values in guiding benchmarking practices, UAE organizations can optimize their performance and competitiveness. The findings contribute valuable insights to the existing literature, offering practical implications for UAE organizations seeking to leverage benchmarking as a strategic tool for growth and continuous improvement. The findings reveal that UAE organizations incorporating environmental considerations into benchmarking practices demonstrate a proactive approach to sustainability, aligning their goals with eco-friendly practices. Cultural influences, including a culture of collaboration and openness to external learning, contribute to successful benchmarking adoption and knowledge sharing. Moreover, the study highlights that the integration of benchmarking outcomes into the management control process positively correlates with organizational performance. UAE organizations that leverage benchmarking data for decision-making and performance evaluation exhibit higher levels of competitiveness and efficiency.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper has important implications for organizations in the UAE seeking to optimize their benchmarking practices and management control. The study's findings can guide organizations in aligning their benchmarking efforts with environmental sustainability goals and cultural values to enhance performance and competitiveness. Understanding the influence of environmental and cultural factors on benchmarking adoption and implementation allows organizations to foster a benchmarking culture that embraces knowledge sharing and learning. Managers can tailor their approaches to accommodate cultural nuances and enhance the effectiveness of benchmarking initiatives.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge in several ways. Integrated approach: By examining the complex interplay of environmental and cultural factors, this study takes an integrated approach of institutional and contingency theories to understanding their influence on benchmarking implementation and management control. It offers a comprehensive view of how these factors interact to shape organizational practices and outcomes. UAE context: The study focuses specifically on the UAE, providing insights into benchmarking practices within the unique environmental and cultural context of the nation. This research addresses a gap in the literature by examining the influence of these factors in a distinct business environment.

Program Report: Improving Patient Experience at an Outpatient Clinic Using Continuous Improvement Tools.

Patient satisfaction with prompt and high-quality healthcare services plays a pivotal role in healthcare settings. The delivery of high-quality services within the healthcare sector is closely associated with continuous quality improvement (CQI), which is an incremental and progressive process that prioritizes the safety of all participants, favorable outcomes, systematic processes, and a regulated and improved working environment, particularly in later stages. Surprisingly, these aspects are less frequently explored in Middle Eastern countries. Thus, this research paper aims to assess the impact of quality services on patient satisfaction in tertiary care clinics located in the Middle East. To improve the quality of services in our clinic, we employed patient feedback as a valuable resource. We proactively reached out to all patients who had visited our hospital via mobile phone messages and requested their feedback on the services they received. Approximately 5% of all visitors responded and completed a comprehensive questionnaire. The majority of respondents expressed satisfaction with the services provided across various departments. However, they also offered valuable suggestions that helped us identify further areas for improvement and enhance the overall patient experience within our clinic. Drawing upon the feedback received, we meticulously considered the identified issues, redesigned our policies, and implemented strategic changes. Following the implementation of these new approaches, we once again sought patients' feedback on the quality of our services. Patient feedback highlighted the significant impact of optimized service delivery methods, resulting in a substantial increase in patient satisfaction. Overall, this study sheds light on the vital factors that can enhance patients' experience in outpatient clinics, emphasizing the importance of integrating patient feedback into continuous quality improvement initiatives. By utilizing this approach, healthcare providers, administrators, and researchers can effectively improve service quality and patient satisfaction. Consequently, this research paper serves as a valuable reference for public health stakeholders, administrators, and researchers in their pursuit of delivering exceptional healthcare experiences.

In-situ simulation of CPR in the emergency department – A tool for continuous improvement of the initial resuscitation

BackgroundSimulating CPR scenarios in a clinical environment has been described as a method for mitigating latent safety threats. Therefore, we implemented regular inter-professional, multidisciplinary in-situ simulations in the emergency department (ED). AimTo iterate a line-up and action cards for initial CPR management. To examine the experiences among participants regarding attitudes towards simulation and if they perceived any benefits for their patients after the participation. MethodIn 2021 we performed 7 in-situ simulations (15-minute simulation, 15-minute hot debrief) in the ED with the CPR team including doctors and nurses from the ED and anaesthesiology department. A questionnaire was sent to the 48 participants the same day and after 3 and 18 months. Answers were given as yes/no or on a Likert scale 0–5 and are presented as median values with interquartile range (IQR) or frequencies. ResultsA line-up and 9 action cards were created. The response rate of the three questionnaires were 52, 23, and 43%, respectively. In total, 100% would recommend the in-situ simulation to a co-worker. Participants perceived that real patients (5 [3–5]) as well as themselves, (5 [3.5–5]), had benefited from the simulation up to 18 months after. ConclusionThirty-minute in-situ simulations are feasible to implement in the ED and simulation observations were useful for development of standardised role descriptions for resuscitation in the ED. Participants self-report benefit for themselves as well as their patients.

Self-assessment of Public Healthcare Facility in Conformity with Accreditation Guidelines for Quality Services

There is a growing global concern for healthcare quality and patient safety and several countries have initiated accreditation and self assessment programmes for improved quality healthcare and patient safety. Both are based on the quality improvement framework and standards. Case studies have shown that: I) Accreditation certification of hospitals and healthcare facilities has been improved the quality of healthcare and related healthcare services. ii) Self-assessment by healthcare organisations has proved to be very useful tool for continuous and sustainable improvement in organization performance, quality of services, patient satisfaction over and above building the self-confidence of the care providers. In context of facility assessed it was carried out using a checklist specifically designed for this study with 318 items. The scoring pattern comprised total points and percent compliance for functional capacity of the hospital in comparison to prescribed norms. Assessment revealed maximum compliance in the categories of MIS and communication (100%). The facility lacked standard operating procedures, quality assurance system and fire safety system. Self-assessment as continuous feature will lay the basis for planning new interventions for impacting over all quality healthcare outcomes as well sustainability.

Development of a navigation program for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

To develop a navigation program for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Method: The study followed the convergent care research methodology, which provides the researcher's participatory insertion in the field of care practice. The navigation program was divided into four stages: diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation. The diagnostic stage consisted of understanding the sector's routine and listing the barriers faced by patients. In the planning phase, the program and its operation were structured. The implementation took place through a pilot study with patients undergoing transplantation. In the evaluation stage, the data were analyzed using the continuous improvement tool (Plan, Do, Check and Correct). Results: The sample consisted of 21 adult patients. The most frequent pathology was acute lymphocytic leukemia, the prevalent sex was male, two patients died during the preparation for the procedure, and only one required readmission after hospital discharge. Conclusion: The development of a navigation program proved to be essential for the adaptation of the patient and family to the new sector and routine, and contributed to greater user satisfaction.

The Influence of IMPACT Approach in Financial Resource Mobilization to Improve Availability of Essential Health Commodities in Sikonge DC

The Tanzanian government, through the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG) and various stakeholders, has developed several robust electronic health systems such as e-LMIS, GoTHOMIS, FFARS and DHIS2 to streamline health supply chain management processes and improve data visibility. However, the use of this data for informed decision making at all levels of the supply chain was found to be very low, which led to the introduction of IMPACT (Information Mobilized for Performance Analysis and Continuous Transformation) to increase the use of data to improve the supply chain in the country, including Sikonge District Council. Following the implementation of the approach, the IMPACT team in Sikonge discovered low performance in the availability of health commodities among other monitored indicators major reason being inadequate financial resources to procure health commodities. This prompted the team to look for other innovative ways of fundraising to rescue the situation in the council. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the influence of the IMPACT approach methods employed in mobilizing financial resources to improve the availability of health commodities in Sikonge DC. Some of the methods employed by Sikonge team for such a purpose were; conducting a preliminary data-driven analysis and assessment to identify issues related to i-CHF and NHIF services, developing strategies to increase i-CHF enrolment, retention, and disbursements, working on the most common anomalies in the NHIF forms to reduce the number of rejected claims and finally clearing the MSD debt of health facilities to relieve them of the financial burden. These strategies resulted in an increase in i-CHF funds reimbursement from Tsh1.4 million in September 2020 to Tsh8 million in December 2021. NHIF funds reimbursement increased from Tsh696,170 in September 2020 to Tsh12 million in December 2021. The overall percentage of health facilities submitting NHIF claims increased from 17% to 77% over the same period. Thus, the concept of IMPACT and the employed data driven strategies, played a major role in the results achieved in Sikonge and in order to meet the alarming demand for health commodities at service delivery points, council teams should show strong commitment in using real-time data for problem identification and resolution through IMPACT team approach as a tool for continuous improvement.

Diagnostics and Modeling of Enterprise Business Processes as a Mandatory Component of the Operational Efficiency Improvement Project

The article proves that a mandatory component of the successful implementation of an operational efficiency improvement project at an enterprise is the procedure for diagnosing business processes and modeling them. The article proves that companies should transform their business processes based on the concept of Performance Management to improve operational efficiency. It is found that the “lean six sigma” strategy remains a powerful tool for continuous improvement and operational efficiency, especially when combined with other solutions, such as business process modeling, digitalization, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence. The article proves that this will increase labor productivity and efficiency of all business processes, which in turn will increase the company’s competitiveness. To this end, the article proposes to implement projects and programs that will allow building models of existing business processes, reviewing them, identifying shortcomings, and building new models that take into account the current state, changes in the environment, and the company’s strategic orientation and ensure operational flexibility, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. The article proposes the use of modeling tools to help increase business performance and staff productivity, optimize company costs, improve reliability, and ensure lean production conditions.The article proposes a procedure for modeling business processes to identify shortcomings in their functioning and their revision and transformation, reviewing the distribution of responsibilities and relevant documentation at each stage of business processes. The article presents the procedure for modeling business processes using specific examples and builds visual models of business processes functioning on the «Draw.io» platform. The necessity of conducting explanatory work among employees for each participant in the process to understand their role (responsibilities) is substantiated. It is determined that conducting explanatory work among the staff ensures increased responsibility, coherence of actions aimed at adding value to the result.

Lean менеджмент в умовах економічного зростання та розвитку

Economic growth planning plays an important role because it ensures the efficient operation of the company, and efficient operations cannot be carried out without reducing production costs. That is why it is expedient to implement a system of planning of lean management for the purpose of economic growth in the context of the introduction of new types of foreign economic activity. Therefore, the purpose of the work is to develop measures for planning economic growth at the enterprise in the context of introduction of new types of foreign economic activity. The main research methods are data collection, evaluation, analysis, comparison, calculation. In the process of the research, several partial tasks were performed: 1) analyzing the lean management system; 2) to describe the process and methods of implementing the lean concept; 3) to formulate specific recommendations regarding the application of lean management by the enterprise in the context of the introduction of new types of foreign economic activity. The goal of managers in the process of implementing a lean management system is to create a process of continuous elimination of losses, the elimination of any actions that use resources but do not create value for the end user. Constant reduction of losses is the main task of lean management. This concept is an effective tool and mechanism for cost control and continuous improvement of business processes. The basis of the concept of lean management is to generate product value for the end consumer at each stage of its creation. To analyze the emergence of value as a result of work, a map of the flow of value creation, which graphically describes the main processes of the company. Those processes that do not add value to the client should be excluded, because they waste the company's resources. One of the key factors in the success of the lean is the involvement of the maximum number of employees in the work to improve processes, because each employee in his workplace performs certain processes and he/she sees first of all what can be improved in the work process. In order to successfully implement a lean project, the following steps must be performed: – step 1 – creation of the statute; – step 2 – the value creation flow card and the scheme of ideas. The cost of implementing the lean management system itself is small compared to the results. The lean project does not require large investments in production. It is only necessary to take into account that the main benefit from the introduction of lean management is in the long run. The process of transitioning a company to the practice of lean can take an indefinite period of time. It all depends on the leadership, team, corporate culture. But remember, lean manufacturing is an endless process of improvement. It is impossible to complete the construction of a system of continuous improvement.

The Implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) to reduce Coupler movement time in Wagon Workshop

The industrial and service industries are both affected by today's quickly shifting economic environment. As a result of globalization, manufacturing and service industries are now susceptible to worldwide competition. These businesses face a number of challenges, including shrinking profit margins, customer demand for high-quality products with short lead times, and product variety. Every industrial company today is under enormous pressure to reduce lead times. The benefits of lean six sigma are being used to enhance productivity, quality, and cycle time in manufacturing and service industries all around the world. The use of the Lean six sigma principles and the usage of the DMAIC tool lower the cycle time of coupler movement time in this research. The various time durations involved in movement are recorded and evaluated on Mintab17 software for root cause determination and solution. By using LSS, the movement time, which was 120 minutes in July 2020, was reduced to 80 minutes in just three months. Because LSS implementation is a tool for continual improvement, there is a lot of growth in the future.

LINC TOOL: USING QUALITY DATA, COACHING, AND AN IMPROVEMENT CYCLE FOR LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT IN LONG-TERM CARE

Abstract Providing high quality of care can be challenging for nursing staff because of the continuous changes in healthcare. Nursing staff needs to learn continuously to remain employable and deal with these challenges. Therefore, availability of a continuous learning and improvement tool (LINC tool) using nursing quality data and an improvement cycle to maintain high quality of care in long-term care is important. The development of this tool took place in co-creation with researchers, experts, educational staff and nursing staff working in long-term care. Taskforces with researchers and experts on quality data and education were established to develop the main steps of the tool. Nursing staff was involved in the development and testing of the tool. The LINC tool consists of 1) Assessment of the current learning climate and preferred quality data for nursing staff to work with, 2) Discussing findings from step 1 with the nursing staff team and formulate learning topics, 3) Start improvement cycle (PDCA cycle) using one learning climate topic and one quality data topic as a case to improve quality of care and improve the learning climate. During this cycle, nurse coaches are available to help nursing staff use the LINC tool materials. The LINC tool can be used to improve long-term care and has proven to be feasible. However, the LINC tool is currently tested in more nursing staff teams to increase its usability and effectiveness. Further development of the LINC tool is therefore a constant cycle of developing, implementing, testing, and evaluating, all in cooperation with stakeholders.

Applying value stream mapping for design and optimization of a chocolate bar production line

Objectives. The objective of this paper is to present the contribution of Value Stream Mapping (VSM) to design and optimization of a chocolate production line. Methodology. Initially data was collected for VSM parameters, within a four-month period for the design of the Current State Map. Future State Map was developed by equalizing production volumes to the line product’s Takt Time. A model implementation was carried out and efficacy was evaluated. Contribution. VSM allowed the company to increase uptime of the cooling process by 31.7% and 85g bar overproduction reduction by almost 100%. The company has found this tool highly useful for diagnostic analysis of production. However, the implementation of continuous improvement tools and infrastructure betterment will be needed to achieve higher efficiency.

Assessment of the Key Performance Indicator Proposed by NABH in the Blood Centre of a Tertiary Health Care Hospital in Southern India.

Quality indicators are tools for continuous improvement to enable the blood center to achieve its standards of the highest quality. Hence, they have to be established and monitored regularly for which NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals) accreditation should be sought for. This study was undertaken to assess the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) through clinical audit quality control study of ten parameters, with a goal to improve and meet the benchmark as defined by NABH. All 10 Key Performance Indicators defined by NABH were analysed prospectively in a tertiary care blood centre of southern India. Parameters were compared to that of bench mark standards. Root cause analysis of all non-conformance parameters were done. Problem were identified and action taken to achieve KPI benchmarks in all deviations. Out of the ten KPI's which were studied, more than 50% meet the quality standards. The ones that did not meet the bench mark were TTI-HIV% which was 0.44%, TTI-Syphilis (RPR)% 0.26%, Number of units received back for discarding 5.96%, PRBC wastage% (on-shelf) was 2.11%, FFP, Cryoprecipitate wastage % (on-shelf) was 2.71%, the mean TAT for crossmatch of emergency PRBC blood was 18.3min, 41.11% of FFP QC failure failed, Delay in transfusion time beyond 30min after issue was 19.14%, Donor Deferral rate was 16.36% and TTI Outliers% No. of deviations beyond ± 2SD for HBsAg, HCV, HIV were 14.43%, 12.59% and17.73% respectively. Present study has helped to understand the flaws and problems faced by a tertiary care blood center in sustaining quality. It also actively captured and analysed multiple cross sections of non-conformances.