IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i23p12309-d685975.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Externalities of Lean Implementation in Medical Laboratories. Process Optimization vs. Adaptation and Flexibility for the Future

Author

Listed:
  • Simona Andreea Apostu

    (Department of Statistics and Econometric, Faculty of Cybernetics, Statistics and Economic Informatics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010552 Bucharest, Romania
    Institute of National Economy-Romanian Academy, 050711 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Valentina Vasile

    (Institute of National Economy-Romanian Academy, 050711 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Cristina Veres

    (Industrial Engineering and Management Department, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania)

Abstract

Important in testing services in medical laboratories is the creation of a flexible balance between quality-response time and minimizing the cost of the service. Beyond the different Lean methods implemented so far in the medical sector, each company can adapt the model according to its needs, each company has its own specifics and organizational culture, and Lean implementation will have a unique approach. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the concerns of specialists and laboratory medical services sector initiatives in optimizing medical services by implementing the Lean Six Sigma method in its various variants: a comparative analysis of the implemented models, with emphasis on measuring externalities and delimiting trends in reforming/modernizing the method, a comprehensive approach to the impact of this method implementation, and an analysis of available databases in order to underline the deficit and information asymmetry. The results highlighted that in the case of clinical laboratories, the Lean Six Sigma method is conducive to a reduction of cases of diagnostic errors and saves time but also faces challenges and employees’ resistance in implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Simona Andreea Apostu & Valentina Vasile & Cristina Veres, 2021. "Externalities of Lean Implementation in Medical Laboratories. Process Optimization vs. Adaptation and Flexibility for the Future," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-22, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:23:p:12309-:d:685975
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/23/12309/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/23/12309/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jenni Konttila & Heidi Siira & Helvi Kyngäs & Minna Lahtinen & Satu Elo & Maria Kääriäinen & Pirjo Kaakinen & Anne Oikarinen & Miyae Yamakawa & Sakiko Fukui & Momoe Utsumi & Yoko Higami & Akari Higuch, 2019. "Healthcare professionals’ competence in digitalisation: A systematic review," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(5-6), pages 745-761, March.
    2. Abderahman Rejeb & John G. Keogh & Horst Treiblmaier, 2019. "Leveraging the Internet of Things and Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-22, July.
    3. Carol Corrado & Jonathan Haskel & Cecilia Jona-Lasinio, 2021. "Artificial intelligence and productivity: an intangible assets approach," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 37(3), pages 435-458.
    4. Klaus Abbink, 2006. "Laboratory Experiments on Corruption," Chapters, in: Susan Rose-Ackerman (ed.), International Handbook on the Economics of Corruption, chapter 14, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Corina DUMITRESCU & Marilena DUMITRACHE, 2011. "The Impact of Lean Six Sigma on the Overall Results of Companies," Economia. Seria Management, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 14(2), pages 535-544, December.
    6. Akmal, Adeel & Greatbanks, Richard & Foote, Jeff, 2020. "Lean thinking in healthcare – Findings from a systematic literature network and bibliometric analysis," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(6), pages 615-627.
    7. Bortolotti, Thomas & Boscari, Stefania & Danese, Pamela, 2015. "Successful lean implementation: Organizational culture and soft lean practices," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 182-201.
    8. Juan A. Marin-Garcia & Pilar I. Vidal-Carreras & Julio J. Garcia-Sabater, 2021. "The Role of Value Stream Mapping in Healthcare Services: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-25, January.
    9. Ole Ellegaard & Johan A. Wallin, 2015. "The bibliometric analysis of scholarly production: How great is the impact?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 105(3), pages 1809-1831, December.
    10. Siddique Latif & Junaid Qadir & Shahzad Farooq & Muhammad Ali Imran, 2017. "How 5G Wireless (and Concomitant Technologies) Will Revolutionize Healthcare?," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-24, December.
    11. Ediz Atmaca & S. Girenes, 2013. "Lean Six Sigma methodology and application," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 47(4), pages 2107-2127, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Maria-Zenovia Grigore & Răzvan Vasile, 2022. "Water Collection, Treatment and Supply as an Essential Service and Engine for Sustainable and Resilient Development in Post Pandemic Period. Economic Performance vs Social Responsibility," Global Economic Observer, "Nicolae Titulescu" University of Bucharest, Faculty of Economic Sciences;Institute for World Economy of the Romanian Academy, vol. 10(2), pages 53-66, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Daniele La Forgia & Gaetano Paparella & Rahel Signorile & Francesca Arezzo & Maria Colomba Comes & Gennaro Cormio & Antonella Daniele & Annarita Fanizzi & Agnese Maria Fioretti & Gianluca Gatta & Miri, 2022. "Lean Perspectives in an Organizational Change in a Scientific Direction of an Italian Research Institute: Experience of the Cancer Institute of Bari," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Makowsky, Michael D. & Wang, Siyu, 2018. "Embezzlement, whistleblowing, and organizational architecture: An experimental investigation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 58-75.
    3. Lucy Semerjian & Kunle Okaiyeto & Mike O. Ojemaye & Temitope Cyrus Ekundayo & Aboi Igwaran & Anthony I. Okoh, 2021. "Global Systematic Mapping of Road Dust Research from 1906 to 2020: Research Gaps and Future Direction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-21, October.
    4. Sten F Odenwald, 2020. "A citation study of earth science projects in citizen science," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-26, July.
    5. Ming-Feng Wu & Jen-Ying Li & Yu-Hsuan Lin & Wei-Chang Huang & Chi-Chih He & Jiunn-Min Wang, 2021. "Processing Cycle Efficiency to Monitor the Performance of an Intelligent Tube Preparation System for Phlebotomy Services," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, September.
    6. Luisanna Cocco & Roberto Tonelli & Michele Marchesi, 2021. "Blockchain and Self Sovereign Identity to Support Quality in the Food Supply Chain," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-19, November.
    7. Amadou Boly & Robert Gillanders & Topi Miettinen, 2016. "Deterrence, peer effect, and legitimacy in anti-corruption policy-making: An experimental analysis," WIDER Working Paper Series 137, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    8. Migliavacca, Milena & Goodell, John W. & Paltrinieri, Andrea, 2023. "A bibliometric review of portfolio diversification literature," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    9. Czarnitzki, Dirk & Fernández, Gastón P. & Rammer, Christian, 2023. "Artificial intelligence and firm-level productivity," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 188-205.
    10. Kroes, James R. & Manikas, Andrew S. & Gattiker, Thomas F., 2018. "Operational leanness and retail firm performance since 1980," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 262-274.
    11. Gregorio González-Alcaide, 2021. "Bibliometric studies outside the information science and library science field: uncontainable or uncontrollable?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(8), pages 6837-6870, August.
    12. Nuno Aluai Carvalho & Maria da Conceição Martins, 2024. "Education to Promote Healthy and Sustainable Eating Habits: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-14, November.
    13. Perez-Vega, Rodrigo & Hopkinson, Paul & Singhal, Aishwarya & Mariani, Marcello M., 2022. "From CRM to social CRM: A bibliometric review and research agenda for consumer research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 1-16.
    14. Théodore Nikiema & Eugène C. Ezin & Sylvain Kpenavoun Chogou, 2023. "Bibliometric Analysis of the State of Research on Agroecology Adoption and Methods Used for Its Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-18, November.
    15. Tortorella, Guilherme Luz & Narayanamurthy, Gopalakrishnan & Thurer, Matthias, 2021. "Identifying pathways to a high-performing lean automation implementation: An empirical study in the manufacturing industry," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    16. Nay Chi Khin Khin Oo & Sirisuhk Rakthin, 2022. "Integrative Review of Absorptive Capacity’s Role in Fostering Organizational Resilience and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-27, October.
    17. Mehdi Toloo & Rouhollah Khodabandelou & Amar Oukil, 2022. "A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of Fractional Programming (1965–2020)," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-21, May.
    18. Milagros Ambrosio-Pérez & Michael Cabanillas-Carbonell & Orlando Iparraguirre-Villanueva, 2023. "Analysis of the Impact of the Pandemic on the Growth, Use, and Development of E-Business: A Systematic Review of the Literature," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-21, April.
    19. Manta Eduard Mihai & Davidescu Adriana Ana Maria & Geambasu Maria Cristina & Florescu Margareta Stela, 2023. "Exploring the research area of direct taxation. An empirical analysis based on bibliometric analysis results," Management & Marketing, Sciendo, vol. 18(s1), pages 355-383, December.
    20. Cameron, Lisa & Chaudhuri, Ananish & Erkal, Nisvan & Gangadharan, Lata, 2009. "Propensities to engage in and punish corrupt behavior: Experimental evidence from Australia, India, Indonesia and Singapore," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(7-8), pages 843-851, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:23:p:12309-:d:685975. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.