Stock Management Research Articles

Get inspired - A pilot qualitative study of global health volunteering with commonwealth partnerships for antimicrobial stewardship

Abstract Introduction The Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS), funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care's Fleming Fund, managed by the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association and Tropical Health and Education Trust, aim to build antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) capacity in low/middle-income countries (LMICs) through health-partnerships with the UK.1 CwPAMS-Phase-2 (CwPAMS2) was launched in March 2023, and supports 24 UK-LMIC partnerships delivering AMS interventions in 73 health facilities across eight African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Since CwPAMS1 inception (2019), UK NHS volunteers have actively provided support for capacity building in LMIC-partner organisations.2,3 Aim To explore the impact of CwPAMS volunteering, in particular, to understand potential benefits and how it could be better integrated into NHS systems. Methods UK volunteers were identified through CwPAMS2 participation and leadership roles. Non-probabilistic, purposive sampling was used; a small number of volunteers were approached via email to pilot the qualitative, semi-structured interview. Data were collected between April/May-2024 with 5 UK volunteers, as well as their line managers; all agreed to scheduled, recorded discussions indicating consent. Interviews focused on the impact of volunteering experiences on UK NHS institutions, and how these could be more formally integrated into continuous professional development (CPD) pathways. Qualitative data was thematically analysed. No ethical approval was required for this study (programme evaluation). Results Volunteers had just begun their direct work in CwPAMS2, with >1000 combined days contributed, and <1000 more needed to reach anticipated outcomes. Interviewees reported benefits to the NHS through shifts in health workforce attitude, perspective and behaviours, consequently influencing wider teams (horizontally and vertically). Changes were regarded as extremely relevant and impactful to the NHS and staff CPD goals. A prominent theme from interviews was the significant impact of global health volunteering on recruitment and retention. Individuals spoke about an injection of motivation, passion and enthusiasm into work - a reminder of the importance of their roles and the reason for staying in their jobs longer: ‘it is a reason to come and join the team and a reason to stay’. A ‘can do’, problem-solving attitude also evolved, in stark contrast with non-volunteering staff e.g. volunteers identified/solved problems rather than reporting them to senior staff, as described by one manager. There was widespread appreciation for the NHS and the resources available in the UK, compared to LMICs. Shared examples of new systems, processes and clinical skills gained and transferred from LMICs into the NHS included: the ability to make alcohol hand gel in-house; dealing with malaria cases; improving stock management systems. Discussion/Conclusion Staff retention is a considerable challenge for the NHS. Volunteering is a great opportunity for personal/professional growth, fostering leadership and motivation, whilst simultaneously improving healthcare practices. Global health volunteering could be integrated into formal CPD pathways in the NHS to capitalise on the relatively small investment in staff time in return for knowledge and skills development. Full implementation of the questionnaire to assess the impact of CwPAMS volunteering on individuals and institutions is planned for delivery at the end of the programme.

Mapping essential juvenile habitats of exploited marine fish: Complementary insights from a scientific survey-based model, fishers’ knowledge and fisheries-dependent data

In the Bay of Biscay (BoB, Northeast Atlantic), a preexisting habitat suitability model (HSM) fitted on ecological scientific trawl survey data with restricted partial coverage revealed the concentration of Young of the Year (YoY) common sole (Solea solea) on restricted coastal and estuarine nurseries. To extend the nursery map of sole in the BoB to zones where survey data are lacking and fit with the sole population and stock management extent, we crossed HSM, fishers’ ecological knowledge (FEK) and fisheries-based (FB) data. FB and FEK data also complemented knowledge on juvenile sole habitat and seasonal migration. Thirteen fishers with potential knowledge about the YoY sole distribution were directly interviewed. Direct interviews included both information about the location of juveniles and YoY distribution mapping. With good consensus among fishers, FEK allowed the identification of four new areas hosting essential juvenile habitat for the common sole, revealed the accuracy of the HSM model outside the spatial coverage of the ecological survey, and provided spatial refinement. The FB observation data confirmed the locations of the essential juvenile habitats given by FEK and the spatial distributions of YoY densities predicted from the scientific data. In addition, FB confirmed the seasonal migration of YoY sole, which was preliminarily hypothesized from a local and short-term survey-based study. Our results emphasized the local accuracy of FEK. These findings also underlined the interest in combining several sources of data and methods to map essential fish habitats outside areas well covered by ecological scientific surveys, on order to inform future spatial management measures.

Morphological characteristics of the species Gaidropsarus Mediterraneus (Linnaeus, 1758) population from the Romanian Black Sea coast in the year 2023

The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the Gaidropsarus mediterraneus (Linnaeus, 1758) species growth pattern from the Romanian Black Sea Coast, in the year 2023. This has been accomplished by studying the length-weight relationship, an important parameter, which helps to know the growth pattern of fish populations, Fulton’s condition factor (kc) (useful index for monitoring feeding intensity) from 180 shore rockling individuals caught by pots. Average lengths and weights were 24.4 ± 2.6 cm and 101.46 ± 38.11 g, respectively, the minimum and maximum values were 18.3 and 33.8 cm, 36 and 319 g in weight. The value of exponent b in the equation is 3.197, indicating that the increasing weight is allometrically positive and mean value of the Fulton was 0.68 ± 0.08, with the minimum and maximum values of 0.47 to 0.90. The obtained results can have useful effects on the stock management of this fish species.

Navigating vaccine procurement and financing challenges in Cameroon: Insights and recommendations from a mixed-methods study (2015–2020)

ObjectivesVaccine stockouts at the national level has been recognized as a critical challenge in ensuring sustained and equitable immunization coverage. These stockouts often arise from inherent issues within countries, including delays in government funding, suboptimal forecasting and stock management practices, and inefficiencies in the procurement process amongst others. Understanding the complexities and barriers within vaccine procurement and financing systems is crucial for developing effective strategies to enhance vaccine availability and strengthen immunization programs. This is particularly relevant in the context of reaching zero dose children and transitioning from Gavi. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the vaccine procurement and financing landscape in Cameroon from 2015 to 2020. Study designThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study. MethodsEmploying a mixed-methods approach, we conducted a desk review of pertinent documents and engaged in in-depth interviews with key stakeholders involved in the procurement and funding mobilization processes. Through data collection and analysis using Microsoft Excel 365 and Dedoose software, we delineated the intricacies of the procurement process and pinpointed specific barriers that have contributed to vaccine stockouts. ResultsThe mapping of vaccine procurement processes revealed complexity, protracted timelines, and the involvement of multiple stakeholders. The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) faced a USD 4 million funding deficit for vaccine procurement between 2016 and 2019. Consequently, the program experienced delays in acquiring 20 million vaccine doses, leading to 41 months of stockout for at least one antigen. Major bottlenecks identified by key stakeholders in vaccine procurement and financing encompassed delayed fund mobilization, inefficient and lengthy processes for fund mobilization and disbursement, poor data utilization, and discrepancies between forecasted, allocated, and mobilized funds. ConclusionThe findings of this research hold significant implications for many EPIs. By elucidating procurement and financing challenges, we can formulate evidence-based recommendations aimed at optimizing resource allocation, streamlining procurement processes, and bolstering vaccine availability. These insights are essential for fostering collaboration between government agencies, technical partners, and financial partners to achieve sustainable vaccine access in Cameroon. Establishing a joint procurement working group could streamline processes, potentially reducing stockouts and improving vaccine coverage.

Developing National Information Systems to Monitor COVID-19 Vaccination: A Global Observational Study.

Strong information systems are essential for safe and effective immunization programs. The COVID-19 vaccine rollout presented all immunization information systems (IIS) with challenging demands-requiring in-depth vaccine implementation data at all health system levels in real time. The system development approaches taken by countries were heterogeneous, with some countries opting to adapt existing systems and others implementing new ones. Using data reported by Member States to the World Health Organization (WHO), we aim to develop a global understanding of (1) the types of IIS used to monitor COVID-19 vaccination implemented in 2021 and (2) the approaches taken by countries to develop these systems. We conducted a descriptive analysis of data reported through a supplemental questionnaire of the WHO/United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Joint Reporting Form on Immunization, collecting data for 2021 on (1) the use of and developmental approaches taken for 7 IIS functions (appointments, aggregate reporting, individual-level reporting, reminders, home-based records, safety surveillance, and stock management), and (2) modifications needed for digital health frameworks to permit COVID-19 vaccination monitoring. In total, 188 of 194 WHO Member States responded to the supplemental questionnaire, with 155 reporting on the IIS-related questions. Among those reporting, for each of the 7 IIS functions explored, greater than 85% of responding countries reported that the system was in place for COVID-19 vaccines. Among responding countries, "aggregate reporting system" was the system most frequently reported as being in place (n=116, 98.3%), while "reminder system" was the least (n=77, 89%). Among the countries reporting using a system, whether an existing system was adapted for COVID-19 vaccines or a new one was developed varied by system. Additionally, two-thirds (n=127, 67.6%) of countries reported establishing at least one new system, ranging from 72% (n=42) in high-income countries (HICs) to 62% (n=16) in low-income countries. Concurrently, 55.3% (n=104) of countries reported adapting at least one system already in place for COVID-19 vaccines, with 62% (n=36) of HICs reporting this compared to about 53% for other income groups. Of those reporting developing new systems, for each of the systems explored, more than 85% of countries reported that they intended to keep new systems specific to COVID-19 vaccines. Further, 147 of the 188 (78.2%) Member States responding to the supplemental questionnaire responded to the digital health frameworks question. Lastly, 31% (n=46) of responding countries reported needing to adapt them for COVID-19 vaccination systems. HICs had a higher percentage. Nearly all countries have adapted existing or developed new IIS to monitor COVID-19 vaccination. The approaches varied, notably by income group. Reflection is needed on how to sustain the investments made in IIS during the pandemic. Continued support for IIS is critical, given their essential role in program monitoring and performance.

Assessment of magnitude of medicines wastage and the contributing factors in selected public health facilities of Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia Regional State

BackgroundMedicine wastage occurs when medicines are damaged, obsolete, or expired and become unsafe for use. In Ethiopia, although there are reports that reveal the presence of wasted medicines in the country, there is limited objective evidence on the type and extent of medicine wastage as well as its contributing factors.ObjectiveThe study aimed to assess the medicine wastage rate and identify its contributing factors in the sampled public health facilities (HFs) in Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia Regional State.MethodA facility-based cross-sectional study complemented by a qualitative study was conducted in selected public HFs in Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia Regional State, from November 1 to 31, 2022. All the hospitals were selected intentionally, and health centers were selected using simple random sampling techniques. For the qualitative study, the chief clinical officers and pharmacy department heads of HFs were purposefully selected as key informants because they were supposed to be more information-rich than other health professionals. The quantitative data were entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.ResultThe total monetary value of wasted medicines in the assessed HFs in the Ethiopian Fiscal Year (EFY) 2011–2013 was 652,479.45 ETB (5.24%). The three-year trend showed that, in the 2011–2012–2013 EFY, medicine wastage was 7.57%, 6.44%, and 3.1%, respectively. Expiration solely accounted for 97.3% of this total value. The alleged explanations for the waste of such medicines were a lack of accurate data available for medicine quantifications, the presence of overstocked medicines due to improper forecasting, a lack of electronic stock management, an abrupt change in the treatment regimen, and improper use of stock management. Whether the perceived causes had an impact on the medicine wastage was assessed, and the results confirmed that a significant association between medicine wastage and overstock (p-value = 0.006, AOR = 8.57, 95% CI = 1.87–39.26), accurate data (p-value = 0.013, AOR = 5.43, 95% CI = 1.42–20.76), and electronic stock management (p-value = 0.05, AOR = 0.311, 95% CI = 0.094–1.03) was observed.ConclusionThe identified medicine wastage rate is significant for a nation that struggles to allocate limited resources fairly. It may negatively affect the initiatives taken by the government to increase public engagement in the healthcare system through insurance contributions. It is a glance for HFs to take immediate corrective action.

Vulnerability assessment of elasmobranch species to fisheries in coastal Kenya: Implications for conservation and management policies

Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) of species is useful for making informed management decisions based on relative vulnerability of species to fisheries. Understanding the vulnerability of species to fishing gears is important for targeted management measures especially for species known to have delicate life-history strategies such as the elasmobranchs. Productivity and Susceptibility Analysis (PSA), an ERA approach, was applied to 61 elasmobranch species (32 shark and 29 ray species) to assess their relative vulnerability (low, medium and high) to fishing by artisanal, prawn trawl and tuna longline fisheries in Kenya’s coastal waters. Overall, results showed 28 % of rays and 31 % of sharks were highly vulnerable to the fisheries, with the pelagic longline tuna fishery having the largest proportions of rays (50 %) and sharks (54 %) being highly vulnerable. Most of the species were in the medium vulnerability category. Among the artisanal gears, only gillnets had species that were highly vulnerable to the fishery, while relatively fewer species (n = 9) of both sharks and rays were highly vulnerable to the prawn trawlers compared to those in the medium vulnerability category (n = 25). Seventeen species classified as High Vulnerability Species Assemblage (HVSA), were assessed to be at high risk of overfishing by different gears, and are recommended for management as a complex. Of the HVSA group, two species; Pseudoginglymostoma brevicaudatum and Rhina ancylostoma are classified by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Critically Endangered (CR), while another four; Rhinoptera jayakari, Mobula birostris, Stegostoma tigrinum and Carcharhinus plumbeus are Endangered (EN), with the rest being either Vulnerable (Gymnura poecilura, Pastinachus ater, Pateobatis jenkinsii, Taeniurops meyeni, Triaenodon obsesus, Carcharhinus falciformis, and Carcharhinus carcharias), Near Threatened (Maculabatis ambigua, Mustelus mosis, Prionace glauca) or classified as Data Deficient (Pliotrema warreni). Although majority of the species have been placed in the medium vulnerability category, some of them are those that are threatened with extinction globally, calling for a more precautionary management approach. A validation approach has been used to mitigate the problems of PSAs associated with data quality and uncertainty around estimated vulnerability indices. More robust application of PSA will require continuous updating of life-history attributes to improve on sensitivity. A precautionary Shark and Ray Management Plan (SRMP) that takes into account the outputs of the PSA is recommended for management and conservation of the elasmobranch stocks in Kenya’s marine waters.

An ecosystem of interconnected technologies to increase efficiencies in blood establishments: The example of the Blood and Tissue Bank of Aragón, Spain.

Blood establishments face environmental, financial, demographic and societal challenges that may impair sustainable blood supply to patients. This study presents the technologies (devices and software) assembled in a global ecosystem implemented by the Blood and Tissue Bank of Aragón (BTBA), Spain, over the last decade to overcome these challenges. Descriptive yearly activity data (2013-2023) of BTBA were retrospectively collected to evaluate the impact of different technologies on blood processing efficiency, focusing on the production of blood components (red blood cell concentrates [RCCs], platelet concentrates [PCs]) and plasma. Operator satisfaction about the technologies introduced in daily routine work was also monitored. Between 2013 and 2023, the annual production decreased by 16.0% for RCCs and increased by 13.3% for PCs. From 2020, all PCs were treated with pathogen reduction technology, and no inventory stock-out was reported. The lowest PC expiry rate (0.2%) was observed after the implementation of the software for blood processing and PC stock management. The deployment of this software also improved plasma recovery: on average, an extra plasma volume of 9 mL was collected per donation in 2023 compared to 2015. A survey confirmed staff satisfaction. The progressive implementation of automated and software-based solutions was key to increasing efficiencies in BTBA. This enabled the optimization of blood processing by maximizing productivity, enhancing traceability, reducing overproduction and wastage and increasing the yield of recovered plasma, while ensuring blood product safety and staff satisfaction.

'Development and Psychometric Testing of the Lean Management Scale for Nursing Services in Hospitals'.

The aim of this study is to develop a new instrument (The Lean Management Scale for Nursing Services in Hospitals- LMS-N) to evaluate the lean levels of nursing services in hospitals and to evaluate its psychometric properties. A three-phase construct was used to develop this scale and to determine its psychometric properties: (1) creating the item pool, (2) preliminarily evaluating items and (3) evaluating psychometric properties. This methodological study evaluated the scale's face, content and construct validities, internal consistency, and temporal stability. The psychometric properties of the scale were tested with a total of 695 nurses in different sample groups. Data were collected between 18 November 2020 and 15 May 2021. The scale's content validity index was 0.75. According to principal component analysis, the scale included 22 items and five subdimensions, and the total variance was 60.32%. In confirmatory factor analysis, the fit indices were good or acceptable for this construct. Its internal consistency was good or acceptable according to reliability analysis. Test-retest showed that the scale had temporal stability. Lean Management Scale in Nursing Services in Hospitals is a valid and reliable tool that can evaluate the level of leanness of nursing services. It provides a comprehensive evaluation with five subdimensions: management support, visual stock management, work environment layout, preventive notification system and waste detection.

Bloodstream: notes towards an anthropology of digital logistics in healthcare.

Based on ethnographic research in northern Ghana, this article explores the complex logistics of blood and the ways in which the availability of blood has been transformed through the introduction of drones. We explore how drone services affect this ecosystem of supply and contribute to reshaping the practices of physicians, nurses, facility pharmacists and stock managers, as well as the expectations and experiences of patients and their families. Situated at the interface of medical anthropology, critical studies of infrastructure and anthropological studies of digital innovations in healthcare, our paper attends to the emerging anthropological research on medical logistics as a means of connecting people with medical resources. It demonstrates the fundamentally ambivalent nature of technological innovation: on the one hand, drones have fueled health workers' hopes and transformed access to blood. On the other hand, their introduction has also led to connectivity without stock. In line with STS scholarship, we highlight the important role of the physical properties of objects such as blood in shaping their circulation.

Development of an Excel Dashboard-Based Warehousing Administration System Using the Design Thinking, EOQ, and POQ Approaches

Warehousing is an important part of a manufacturing process where ideal warehouse management will improve the company's logistics in times of crisis. This research seeks to gain an in-depth understanding of the problems faced by warehousing and create user-focused solutions. Furthermore, EOQ and POQ methods are used to optimize stock and order management. EOQ helps determine the economical number of bookings to be made, while POQ considers demand variability in determining order schedules. The results of this study show that with Design Thinking, it was found that the needs of users are the use of an easier application system and stock filling standards so that the accuracy of stock is better maintained. It can be concluded that the EOQ and POQ methods can overcome understock and overstock. However, the EOQ method has less risk than POQ, this is because the company does not spend a lot of funds and takes with little frequency so it is more effective and the warehouse movement space can be more minimal.

Usability of a digital tool to support long-lasting insecticide net distribution in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, South Sudan.

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have been a widely used malaria prevention method for decades. In South Sudan, LLINs are typically distributed by volunteers who use paper-based systems to collect distribution data. Paper-based systems are simple to use but have a higher occurrence of data inaccuracies and can hinder the timely use of data for decision-making. In 2022, a digital tool was introduced to collect data during the LLIN campaign in Northern Bahr el Ghazal (NBeG). The tool aimed to improve the accuracy of data entry and enable data to be used in real-time for decision making during the campaign. The digital tool was developed with offline functionality and interoperability with DHIS2 tracker version 2.8 in DHIS2 version 2.38. This study assessed the usability of the tool according to user perspectives. A questionnaire containing open- and closed-ended questions was conducted with users of the digital tool, supervisors and other key stakeholders in five counties of NBeG. The questionnaire was administered using Malaria Consortium's Projects Results System Android mobile application. Usability was determined through a modified and validated System Usability Scale (SUS) approach. A total of 93 participants responded to the usability questionnaire. The mean (± standard deviation) usability score across 10 SUS-scoring items was60.91 (12.87), indicating a modest level of usability. The majority of users agreed the tool was useful for managing the LLIN distribution workflow, was easy to use, reduced workload, and supported stock management and real-time campaign monitoring. There was no significant difference in the usability scores across genders, roles, and counties. Respondents with experience of both paper-based and the digital tool tended to express a preference for the digital tool over paper-based systems. The majority of respondents also reported they would recommend the digital tool to colleagues. Digital tools are perceived to improve data collection during LLIN campaigns, even in remote areas where network coverage is challenging. Additional improvements can be implemented to overcome operational challenges and improve usability of the tool. Further study is needed to assess the impact of the digital tool on data quality and real-time data use.

Postpartum Women's Experiences of Postnatal Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis.

Postnatal care (PNC) is a critical service for the health and well-being of new mothers and newborns. However, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), most efforts to improve maternal and child health have been directed toward enhancing skilled birth attendance and urgent obstetric and neonatal care. This is despite the fact that more than half of maternal deaths globally occur in the postnatal period, with 65% of these occurring in the first week following birth. One of the health system factors influencing PNC utilization is the women's previous PNC experience at healthcare facilities. The aim of this review was to gain a better understanding of women's experiences of PNC in SSA. This study followed a qualitative evidence synthesis design. The phenomenon of interest was postpartum women's experiences of PNC in SSA. PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Science Direct, Africa Journals Online (AJOL), SCOPUS, and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2013 and 2023. To assess the quality of the included studies, we used an appraisal tool developed by the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre. Two authors independently extracted relevant data from the included studies. Thomas and Harden's thematic synthesis framework was used to synthesize the data. Eight articles were used in this review. Seven articles reported on qualitative studies, and one reported on a mixed-method study. All the included studies fully or partially met the 12 quality assessment criteria. Synthesis of the data resulted in the development of five analytical themes. The five themes were the adequacy of physical examination and communication of the findings, adequacy of PNC information, the quality of interactions with healthcare workers (HCWs), the availability of resources and adequacy of HCWs, and denial of care. The overall confidence in the review's findings was either moderate or high. Based on our findings, we recommend that countries in the region address staff shortages, implement task shifting, electronic medicine stock management systems, optimal supply chain policies, and train HCWs on PNC and interpersonal communication skills.

Analysis of Drug Sales Patterns in the Belawan Naval Hospital Pharmacy Using Apriori Algorithm

Hospital pharmacy plays an important role in ensuring drug availability and effective stock management. With the increasing number of drug redemptions, manual data management becomes inefficient and can lead to understocking or overstocking. Therefore, a method is needed that is able to automatically analyze drug sales patterns to improve stock management efficiency. One approach that can be used is the Apriori algorithm, an effective data mining technique for finding patterns in drug redemptions. This study aims to analyze drug redemption patterns at the Belawan Navy Hospital Pharmacy using the Apriori algorithm. The data used is drug redemption data. The Apriori algorithm is applied to find relationships between drug items that are often purchased together, so that it can provide useful insights in drug stock management. The results of the study showed that the Apriori algorithm successfully identified several significant drug redemption patterns. These patterns can be used to improve the efficiency of drug stock management and ensure timely drug availability, as well as reduce the risk of understocking or overstocking. The results of the study used logistic regression to predict discrete (binary) values from a column based on values from other columns and the accuracy obtained was 1.0 or 100%. This study concludes that the application of data mining with the Apriori algorithm can provide significant benefits in optimizing the management of drug stock redemption in hospital pharmacies.

Linear Regression Analysis in Predicting the Amount of Stock of HP Sparepart Goods in GMT

The rapid advancement of the digital era has made smartphones an essential part of daily life, making the availability of high-quality spare parts crucial for their seamless operation. GMT, a store specializing in smartphone spare parts, faces challenges in predicting fluctuating consumer demand, often leading to either stock shortages or excesses. To address this issue, this research develops a stock prediction system based on linear regression, which analyzes sales data to accurately forecast stock needs. The implementation of this method has resulted in improved accuracy in stock management, enabling GMT to optimize inventory, minimize potential losses, and enhance both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

RANCANG BANGUN MODEL MONITORING UNDERGROUND TANK SPBU DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN SENSOR ULTRASONIK BERBASIS INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT)

The management of underground tanks at gas stations is a crucial aspect to ensure the availability and safety of fuel. However, conventional methods for monitoring fuel levels in tanks are often ineffective and prone to human error. To address this issue, this research designs and develops a model for an underground tank monitoring system using ultrasonic sensors Internet of Things (IoT) integrated technology. The ultrasonic sensors are used to measure the fuel level in the tank in real-time, and this data is then transmitted to an IoT platform for analysis and monitoring through a user interface that can be accessed remotely. This system is expected to enhance operational efficiency and safety in the management of underground tanks at gas stations and provide early warnings in the event of abnormal conditions, such as leaks or excessively low fuel levels. The implementation results demonstrate that this system can provide accurate and reliable information, enabling better decision-making in fuel stock management

Sweet Bread Teaching Factory's Feasibility Projection at Banyuwangi State Polytechnic

This study aims to provide an overview of sweet bread production as an alternative in planning and developing teaching factories based on business feasibility projection analysis. A quantitative technique was applied in this research. Survey techniques and statistical tests were used to examine the hypotheses. To demonstrate that an institution can and should continue its sweet bread business, several variables were measured, including the Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Net Present Value (NPV), Return on Investment (ROI), Benefit–Cost Ratio (B/C ratio), Payback Period (PBP), and Break Event Point (BEP), providing further information for Business Model Canvas analysis of a business model. Based on the BMC, the value propositions are a variety of sweet bread, ease of access, affordable prices, quality, and taste. Key activities include sweetbread production, stock management, marketing and promotion, and customer service. Customer segmentation involves students, lecturers, staff, and institutional visitors. An analysis of financial projections reveals that business is feasible. This can be seen from IRR = 53,19%; the NPV > 0 is equal to IDR 85,222,327; ROI = 216.69%; B/C ratio =1.07; BCR > 1; PBP = 41 months; and BEP = IDR 5,528,669.25. Keywords: teaching factory, sweet bread production, business feasibility, financial projection

The role of larval transport on recruitment dynamics of red mullet (Mullus barbatus) in the Central Mediterranean Sea

Recruitment success depends on external forcing mechanisms such as ocean currents that affect the transport of eggs and larvae to favorable habitats. In this study, we investigated the role of larval transport in the recruitment of Mullus barbatus in the Central Mediterranean Sea by modeling the recruits' abundance as a function of both spawning stock size and dispersal rates of the species’ early life stages. Our analysis involved twenty years of data on recruits and spawners abundance obtained from scientific trawl surveys, and data on larval dispersal rates derived from a combination of actualized published sources and original data. By calculating in the Sicilian nurseries, the estimates of retention, import and uniformity of the contribution of the spawning areas distributed among different Geographical Sub Areas (GSAs), we assessed their contribution to recruitment using modified Ricker stock size-recruits models. In particular, our results show that a higher uniform contribution from spawning areas within GSA16, mainly related to the oceanographic patterns promoting larval retention, together with spawners abundance, significantly reduced the variability of red mullet recruitment. We further highlighted that when switching from a higher to a lower level of evenness of contribution to the recruit population from different spawning areas in the GSA16, the expected spawning stock abundance per recruit for a given fishing pattern can suffer a rapid short-term decline, which is likely to have negative consequences for stock assessment and management decisions. Our results suggest that larval transport plays a crucial role in explaining the interannual variability of recruitment, thereby contributing to a better understanding of stock size variation. Additionally, our study enhances the understanding of the spatial dynamics involved in the recruitment of this species, which is of increasing interest within fisheries management frameworks.

Improvement of Drug Stock Management Using ABC-VED Analysis in a University Hospital

Objective: Hospitals allocate approximately 35% of their budgets to pharmaceutical and material stocks in order to provide uninterrupted health services. For this reason, hospital managers spend a lot of time and effort in order to keep a minimum level of stock so as not to disrupt health service production and thus to better manage the limited resources of the enterprise. The aim of this study is to group the drugs according to their financial value and vital importance. In this way, it is aimed to perform stock management in the least costly, errorfree and effective way. Method: In the study, data corresponding to one-year (2021) consumption of a total of 1327 items of drugs were analyzed. The total cost is approximately 83 million ₺. In this study, an ABC-VED cross-analysis was performed on the one-year drug consumption data of a university hospital with 853 beds in order to provide an example of a more controlled inventory structure. Results: According to the results, it is seen that the ratio of drugs in the first category, that is, drugs that are both high cost and vital for the patient, to the total drug item is 38%. The cost of these drugs constitutes 87% of the total cost. Conclusion: Taking into account the classifications put forward in the study, strict monitoring of a small number of drugs and regular weekly counts will make drug stock management much easier for managers.

Measuring the impact of automated dispensing cabinets implementation on data and inventory management of human normal immunoglobulin in an acute teaching hospital: A pre- and post- intervention study

BackgroundHuman Normal Immunoglobulin (HNIg) is a complex plasma-derived blood product used to treat a variety of medical conditions. Global supply problems have increased focus on HNIg stewardship, including mandatory recording of HNIg usage on the National Immunoglobulin Database (NIgD). Local departmental audits identified significant inconsistencies in data uploaded to NIgD. Inventory management issues caused a number of stock losses in the last financial year. A paper-based HNIg batch number recording system was replaced with the use of Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs), which generated an electronic batch number report, with matching fields required for electronic upload to NIgD. AimTo measure the impact of ADC implementation on the accuracy of data uploaded to NIgD, HNIg stock control and staff time associated with processes of HNIg data and inventory management. MethodThree months of pre- and post-implementation HNIg dispensing data was compared to the data uploaded to the NIgD for discrepancies. Inventory reports were used to identify unexplained stock adjustments. Time and motion methods were used to quantify staff time associated with HNIg activities. ResultsPre-implementation: 20.7 % (3762.5 g/18,217 g) of HNIg by volume (23.7 % of dispensing episodes; 66/279) were inaccurately uploaded or absent on the NIgD and three stock adjustments were made (loss of >£15 k). Post-implementation: 12 % (2325 g/19,347 g) of HNIg by volume (10.8 % of dispensing episodes; 31/286) were inaccurately uploaded or absent on the NIgD and zero stock adjustments were observed; Mean time for dispensing per HNIg prescription reduced from 17 min to 8 min; Time spent uploading data to NIgD per month reduced from 5 h to 1.75 h. Discussion/ConclusionThe use of ADCs improved accuracy of NIgD data upload. Following implementation direct observations have cited unregistered or finished patient episodes, dispensing procedural compliance, and user familiarity with the system as common reasons for incomplete data uploads to NIgD. The new ADC process had consequences of forcing dispensing procedure compliance to improve uploads, whilst reducing dispensing times. It led to improved stock control and removed upload burden from dispensers. ADC stock discrepancy alerts allowed staff to proactively resolve discrepancies in real time. Time taken for additional processes to support management of stocks in ADCs, including monthly stock cycle counts, were important considerations for implementation. The key advantage of using ADC batch number reports is the ability to upload as a single monthly batch without having to manually access individual patient records on the NIgD. It facilitates early identification of failed upload attempts and supports resolution of stock discrepancies.