Use of Lean Production to Reduce Waste When Compounding Sterile Pharmaceutical Products

Abstract

Purpose

The effects of a 5-batch-per-day schedule for sterile product compounding in an inpatient hospital pharmacy were studied.

Summary

Using lean production concepts, an interdisciplinary team implemented a system to standardize delivery locations and improve just-in-time delivery for sterile medication products in an inpatient hospital setting. The primary focus of the team was transforming the current sterile medication preparation process from a 2– to a 5–batch-per-day system.

Conclusion

Increasing the frequency of sterile product batches from 2 to 5 batches per day reduced rework and waste by 64%. A true just-in-time process for sterile medication compounding has the potential to be safer and more efficient than traditional batch systems. Additional work is needed to determine if a true just-in-time sterile medication compounding process is feasible in an inpatient hospital setting.