Supply Chain Tip of the Week: Avoid common standardization pitfalls

Product standardization can be daunting but failing to standardize can lead to increased product costs and variation in clinical practice.

Here are three pitfalls to avoid when implementing standardization initiatives in your facility:

1. Failing to obtain clinical buy-in: You must have clinical buy-in to make any standardization effort work, so getting the right people together to discuss a standardization strategy is key. If you involve clinicians from the very beginning and make sure they have a voice, they may be more willing to comply with the program once it’s put in motion.
2. Insufficient time for the process: If your facility has decided to standardize, make sure you’re allocating enough time to execute standardization initiatives properly. If excessive time spent managing inventory impedes staff from focusing on standardization, consider implementing automated inventory management technology to alleviate this.
3. Getting caught up in the data: Data should drive your standardization decisions, but large, messy data sets are difficult to work with. To truly understand your data and derive actionable insights, technology can be an excellent aid. If you’re considering automated inventory management technology, make sure you select a system with clear, digestible reporting. 

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