Supply Chain Management

Materials Management

For customers, such as Theatres and Wards we offer materials management, where Supplies staff manage stock on behalf of the clinical staff, freeing valuable nursing time. We have over 240 sites who currently use our materials management service and we receive over 80% of all our stock consumables’ orders via this method. Materials management uses bar code technology to maintain stock levels and to re-order stock using hand held scanners. A best practice guide is available and for more information about this service click here.

Materials Management reduces time and costs:

• the direct links between the data capture system and the supplier's ordering system reduces supply chain time and costs and reduces ordering errors
• by releasing a significant amount of Nursing time back into the ward
• by simplifying ordering - the data is inputted direct to the supplier via a hand-held barcode reader

Materials Management provides management information:

• that can be used to forecast required stock
• it can provide statistical analysis of historical data and generate reports to review product use and to identify better efficiencies

Materials Management gives flexibility to manage products:

• by helping with product standardisation programmes and effective stock control, leading to more efficient use of limited storage space on the wards
• by providing a modular storage system
• by streamlining receipting procedures, leading to improved payment systems

Materials Management saves money:

• by saving on requisition costs, reducing obsolescence and waste and simplifying stock valuation for the trust
• by helping to give a clearer understanding of a Trust's spend and operating costs
• by providing realistic stock levels linked to actual usage - matching service delivery with Trust actual service needs