- Email: [email protected]
The Intelligent Shelf for Replenishment Blood Bags
6th IFAC Conference on Management and Control of Production and Logistics The International Federation of Automatic Control September 11-13, 2013. Fortaleza, Brazil
The Intelligent Shelf for Replenishment Blood Bags Samuel Bloch da Silva, Prof Dr Anderson R. Correia
Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA) Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50. São José dos Campos - SP. Brazil {e-mail: [email protected] ; anderson@ ita.b}.
Abstract: Blood Bank operations are a key component of the healthcare system all over the world. Therefore an efficient management flow among blood bank center and hospitals are important to save patients’ lives. In the other hand, information flow among partners is an important activity that enhances an effective operation of blood distribution. However, information flow depends directly from identification technology and infrastructure to sharing collected events. The aim of this research was to propose the optimal combination of a intelligent shelf with RFID to create a new communication between physical and information events in order to supply blood bags in the hospital context. In other words, the structure of supply chains in general must evolve in order to improve the participation of each stakeholder. Stevens [4] already expected in 1989 that a transition from traditional to integrated supply chains was necessary (Figure 1).
1. INTRODUCTION New technologies has brought many new opportunities for companies, but also the need to maintain a stable number of heterogeneous systems and processes across the supply chain participants. Bill Gates [1] coined the term "digital nervous system" to define the advent of the Internet as the element that will redefine the boundaries between companies, so that business links are strengthened regardless of size and location. In 2000 Hewlett-Packard Company introduced the term "E-Supply", whereby the supply chain would benefit from the adoption of open standards of Internet communication such as XML and Java, making it possible to share information at reduced costs [2]. However, it is not enough to solve all the challenges. Future supply chains will need an element to serve as a connection between the physical parts of this process, and virtual entities to improve agility in supply chains. Simchi-Levi and Kaminsky [3] highlighted the point that the acceleration of business processes is a result of automation of processes related to supply chains, where the impacts will be mainly perceived in: •
Reduction in time collaboration of information
•
Provision and management of inventories
•
Visibility of demand in real time
•
Reduction of storage costs.
978-3-902823-50-2/2013 © IFAC
Fig. 1. Traditional vs. Integrated Supply Chains (source: adapted from [4] )
As shown in Figure 1, Stevens [4] suggests a situation where improved information sharing eliminates 21
10.3182/20130911-3-BR-3021.00079
IFAC MCPL 2013 September 11-13, 2013. Fortaleza, Brazil
unnecessary intermediate stocks. This concept of this study from Stevens is synonymous to the basic concept for any supply chain. Despite of Blood Bank is responsible to distribution blood in the right amount at the right time to the right destination. It is the key to an efficient management of blood supply chain. This paper proposes a model to improve the level of integration in a supply chain scenario for blood bags, where the "products" are identified by RFID technology and information sharing between supply chain stakeholders is enhanced. 2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Fig. 3 – Theoretical Replenishment Model for Blood Bags
Based on the design of traditional supply chains suggested by Stevens [4] in Figure 1, we created a generic model to characterize the current process (Figure 2).
The ”to be” process as shown in Figure 3 can be achieved by use of new technologies together to eliminate parts of the traditional model which added no value. By contrast, the model for replenishment blood bag are constructed over the flow of information provided from rfid tags within supply chain. In addition, proposed solution provides feedback to the high-level systems about adjustments made necessary by the realities of more detailed operations. This new model is the inspiration for uncovering new ways to improve the blood bag track and trace in the network and help hospital staff to avoid delays and mistakes through the process.
Fig. 2. - Traditional Replenishment Process in the Blood Chain suggested for the Case Study
In this context there are many possible techniques to use in achieving the model set out in Figure 3. But this work is limited to use RFID technology to create a intelligent shelf inside the blood bags refrigerator, which will be explained below.
Problems in blood requisition and distribution caused from ineffective data communication between point of use, hospitals warehouse and respective Blood Bank. Usually there is no system to manager all relevant information about that process and hospital staff needs to make phone calls to confirm blood bags flow in the network. This scenario contribute to delays and mistakes and affect the overall flexibility of blood chain. Christopher [5] also suggests that supply chains of the future, independent of product, will need to be "orchestrated" in a network that creates value to end customers. Therefore an efficient management flow among blood bank center and hospitals are important to save patients’ lives.
4. THE INTELLIGENT SHELF DEPLOYMENT The Blood is an important resource in the medical activities, where is generally gathered from voluntary donors. Currently "Blood cannot be appraised in term of cost, has a limited shelf-life, which must be utilized in a relatively short period. Consequently, blood is known to be an important medical supply which must be managed well to minimize loss" [6] . In the present work, the "Intelligent Shelf" as the equipment oriented to resupply of blood bags from the Blood Bank directly to the Hospital, so that they meet the following operational requirements:
3. PROPOSED SOLUTION As mentioned before, the main purpose of the proposed solution is to use RFID technology attached on blood bags to create a "intelligent shelf" at the point of use. It's very important to enhances information flow among all members involved in the supply chain and improves communication for making blood requisition more rapidly and accurately. Figure 3 shows the theoretical model for the resupply of blood bags.
• Have the right blood bags of the right quantity in the right place at the appropriate time • Simplify the process of resupply • Eliminate intermediate stocks and systems • Use RFID tags on the Blood Bags as a "trigger" between demand e resupply
22
IFAC MCPL 2013 September 11-13, 2013. Fortaleza, Brazil
However, the proposed equipment meets the design requirements; an RFID appropriate and viable solution needs to be developed for the product in question. The following steps will be addressed during the next section some small reviews about the technology.
described due the changes in fundamental dielectric constant parameters as well as other more fundamental physical characters not covered by this paper. Therefore lab testing need to be deployed to collect real data about RFID tags performance attached on blood bags.
5. PROPOSED PASSIVE UHF RFID SOLUTION FOR THE INTELLIGENT SHELF
6. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS AND SUGGESTION FOR FUTURE WORKS
RFID technology operating at ultra high frequency (UHF) is based on the propagation of energy through electromagnetic waves radiated from an antenna connected to a reader. As shown in Figure 4, the reception of the wave emitted by the reader in the RFID tag attached to the blood bag causes a response by sending the same information relevant to the system:
The result from this study suggests that the proposed intelligent shelf has an ability to fulfill blood bags more faster than current practice. Blood bank can handle the demand with the support of fast communication channel created from RFID infrastructure presents in the intelligent shelf. This means accurate information for everyone participate in the network and more visibility generated by the demand in the point of use. In particular there the proposed model could be used in different segments and applications, both in industrial and service areas. It is believed that the model can be adjusted to: • kanban system for medications • high value items controls • consigned inventory for medical devices
Fig. 4 – Communication Chanel for the RFID Systems
• management of surgical prostheses The information from RFID tag identified by the system is used for various internal processes, based on software tools, such as access to a database that can contain several other tagged item information such as your date of donation, expiry date, serial number. From the above in Figure 4 shows that it is of fundamental importance for the functioning of the system that the wave emitted by the antenna of the reader reaches the label with enough energy so that it can respond with the information questioned by the reader. A major challenge for this to occur properly is that the energy carried by electromagnetic wave scattering does not suffer much, and consequent loss in the propagation, so that the label has a sufficient level to establish a communication channel between this and reader. This is a fact inherent in the propagation of waves from an antenna scattering of energy in space. Because it is practically impossible to receive all the energy emitted by the source, only part of it is captured in the receiving antenna creating a "loss" commonly called the Free Space Loss (FSL). In the same context, Arumugam & Engels [7] (2009) also suggest "the variation of tag gain is known to be unique, since liquids tend to either absorb RF energy or reflect RF waves of its surface, due to the unique transmission and reflectance that the interfacial surface presents to the problems." . In fact that different types of liquid as a blood bag, may cause varying types of issues to the readability of the passive tag. The varying effect can be
Naturally, many other applications may derive after analysis and appropriateness of the proposed model. This research was to proposed the optimal combination of a intelligent shelf with RFID to create a new communication between physical and information events in order to items in the hospital context
REFERENCES GATES, W. H. III. Business @ The Speed of Thought – Using a Digital Nervous System . Ed Warner Books, 1999. AMOR, D.. A (R)Evolução do E-Business. Ed Makron Books, 2000 SIMCHI-LEVI, D.; KAMINSKY, P.; SIMCHI-LEVI, E.. Cadeia de Suprimentos – Projeto e Gestão – Conceitos, Estratégias e Estudos de Caso. Porto Alegre: Ed Bookman, 2008. STEVENS, G. C.. Integrating the Supply Chain. International Journal of Physics Distribribution, 19(8), 3--8 (1989) CHRISTOPHER, M.. Logística e Gerenciamento da Cadeia de Suprimentos – Criando Redes que Agregam Valor. Ed Cengace Learning, 2009. 23
IFAC MCPL 2013 September 11-13, 2013. Fortaleza, Brazil
BOONYANUSITH, W.; JITTAMAI, P.. The Development of Web-Based System for Blood Requisition. Seventh International Conference on Information Technology. IEEE Computer Society. 2010 ARUMUGAM, D.D.; ENGELS, D.W.. Characteristics of Passive Tags on Liquids. IEEE . 2009
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The Intelligent Shelf for Replenishment Blood Bags Samuel Bloch da Silva, Prof Dr Anderson R. Correia
Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA) Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50. São José dos Campos - SP. Brazil {e-mail: [email protected] ; anderson@ ita.b}.
Abstract: Blood Bank operations are a key component of the healthcare system all over the world. Therefore an efficient management flow among blood bank center and hospitals are important to save patients’ lives. In the other hand, information flow among partners is an important activity that enhances an effective operation of blood distribution. However, information flow depends directly from identification technology and infrastructure to sharing collected events. The aim of this research was to propose the optimal combination of a intelligent shelf with RFID to create a new communication between physical and information events in order to supply blood bags in the hospital context. In other words, the structure of supply chains in general must evolve in order to improve the participation of each stakeholder. Stevens [4] already expected in 1989 that a transition from traditional to integrated supply chains was necessary (Figure 1).
1. INTRODUCTION New technologies has brought many new opportunities for companies, but also the need to maintain a stable number of heterogeneous systems and processes across the supply chain participants. Bill Gates [1] coined the term "digital nervous system" to define the advent of the Internet as the element that will redefine the boundaries between companies, so that business links are strengthened regardless of size and location. In 2000 Hewlett-Packard Company introduced the term "E-Supply", whereby the supply chain would benefit from the adoption of open standards of Internet communication such as XML and Java, making it possible to share information at reduced costs [2]. However, it is not enough to solve all the challenges. Future supply chains will need an element to serve as a connection between the physical parts of this process, and virtual entities to improve agility in supply chains. Simchi-Levi and Kaminsky [3] highlighted the point that the acceleration of business processes is a result of automation of processes related to supply chains, where the impacts will be mainly perceived in: •
Reduction in time collaboration of information
•
Provision and management of inventories
•
Visibility of demand in real time
•
Reduction of storage costs.
978-3-902823-50-2/2013 © IFAC
Fig. 1. Traditional vs. Integrated Supply Chains (source: adapted from [4] )
As shown in Figure 1, Stevens [4] suggests a situation where improved information sharing eliminates 21
10.3182/20130911-3-BR-3021.00079
IFAC MCPL 2013 September 11-13, 2013. Fortaleza, Brazil
unnecessary intermediate stocks. This concept of this study from Stevens is synonymous to the basic concept for any supply chain. Despite of Blood Bank is responsible to distribution blood in the right amount at the right time to the right destination. It is the key to an efficient management of blood supply chain. This paper proposes a model to improve the level of integration in a supply chain scenario for blood bags, where the "products" are identified by RFID technology and information sharing between supply chain stakeholders is enhanced. 2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Fig. 3 – Theoretical Replenishment Model for Blood Bags
Based on the design of traditional supply chains suggested by Stevens [4] in Figure 1, we created a generic model to characterize the current process (Figure 2).
The ”to be” process as shown in Figure 3 can be achieved by use of new technologies together to eliminate parts of the traditional model which added no value. By contrast, the model for replenishment blood bag are constructed over the flow of information provided from rfid tags within supply chain. In addition, proposed solution provides feedback to the high-level systems about adjustments made necessary by the realities of more detailed operations. This new model is the inspiration for uncovering new ways to improve the blood bag track and trace in the network and help hospital staff to avoid delays and mistakes through the process.
Fig. 2. - Traditional Replenishment Process in the Blood Chain suggested for the Case Study
In this context there are many possible techniques to use in achieving the model set out in Figure 3. But this work is limited to use RFID technology to create a intelligent shelf inside the blood bags refrigerator, which will be explained below.
Problems in blood requisition and distribution caused from ineffective data communication between point of use, hospitals warehouse and respective Blood Bank. Usually there is no system to manager all relevant information about that process and hospital staff needs to make phone calls to confirm blood bags flow in the network. This scenario contribute to delays and mistakes and affect the overall flexibility of blood chain. Christopher [5] also suggests that supply chains of the future, independent of product, will need to be "orchestrated" in a network that creates value to end customers. Therefore an efficient management flow among blood bank center and hospitals are important to save patients’ lives.
4. THE INTELLIGENT SHELF DEPLOYMENT The Blood is an important resource in the medical activities, where is generally gathered from voluntary donors. Currently "Blood cannot be appraised in term of cost, has a limited shelf-life, which must be utilized in a relatively short period. Consequently, blood is known to be an important medical supply which must be managed well to minimize loss" [6] . In the present work, the "Intelligent Shelf" as the equipment oriented to resupply of blood bags from the Blood Bank directly to the Hospital, so that they meet the following operational requirements:
3. PROPOSED SOLUTION As mentioned before, the main purpose of the proposed solution is to use RFID technology attached on blood bags to create a "intelligent shelf" at the point of use. It's very important to enhances information flow among all members involved in the supply chain and improves communication for making blood requisition more rapidly and accurately. Figure 3 shows the theoretical model for the resupply of blood bags.
• Have the right blood bags of the right quantity in the right place at the appropriate time • Simplify the process of resupply • Eliminate intermediate stocks and systems • Use RFID tags on the Blood Bags as a "trigger" between demand e resupply
22
IFAC MCPL 2013 September 11-13, 2013. Fortaleza, Brazil
However, the proposed equipment meets the design requirements; an RFID appropriate and viable solution needs to be developed for the product in question. The following steps will be addressed during the next section some small reviews about the technology.
described due the changes in fundamental dielectric constant parameters as well as other more fundamental physical characters not covered by this paper. Therefore lab testing need to be deployed to collect real data about RFID tags performance attached on blood bags.
5. PROPOSED PASSIVE UHF RFID SOLUTION FOR THE INTELLIGENT SHELF
6. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS AND SUGGESTION FOR FUTURE WORKS
RFID technology operating at ultra high frequency (UHF) is based on the propagation of energy through electromagnetic waves radiated from an antenna connected to a reader. As shown in Figure 4, the reception of the wave emitted by the reader in the RFID tag attached to the blood bag causes a response by sending the same information relevant to the system:
The result from this study suggests that the proposed intelligent shelf has an ability to fulfill blood bags more faster than current practice. Blood bank can handle the demand with the support of fast communication channel created from RFID infrastructure presents in the intelligent shelf. This means accurate information for everyone participate in the network and more visibility generated by the demand in the point of use. In particular there the proposed model could be used in different segments and applications, both in industrial and service areas. It is believed that the model can be adjusted to: • kanban system for medications • high value items controls • consigned inventory for medical devices
Fig. 4 – Communication Chanel for the RFID Systems
• management of surgical prostheses The information from RFID tag identified by the system is used for various internal processes, based on software tools, such as access to a database that can contain several other tagged item information such as your date of donation, expiry date, serial number. From the above in Figure 4 shows that it is of fundamental importance for the functioning of the system that the wave emitted by the antenna of the reader reaches the label with enough energy so that it can respond with the information questioned by the reader. A major challenge for this to occur properly is that the energy carried by electromagnetic wave scattering does not suffer much, and consequent loss in the propagation, so that the label has a sufficient level to establish a communication channel between this and reader. This is a fact inherent in the propagation of waves from an antenna scattering of energy in space. Because it is practically impossible to receive all the energy emitted by the source, only part of it is captured in the receiving antenna creating a "loss" commonly called the Free Space Loss (FSL). In the same context, Arumugam & Engels [7] (2009) also suggest "the variation of tag gain is known to be unique, since liquids tend to either absorb RF energy or reflect RF waves of its surface, due to the unique transmission and reflectance that the interfacial surface presents to the problems." . In fact that different types of liquid as a blood bag, may cause varying types of issues to the readability of the passive tag. The varying effect can be
Naturally, many other applications may derive after analysis and appropriateness of the proposed model. This research was to proposed the optimal combination of a intelligent shelf with RFID to create a new communication between physical and information events in order to items in the hospital context
REFERENCES GATES, W. H. III. Business @ The Speed of Thought – Using a Digital Nervous System . Ed Warner Books, 1999. AMOR, D.. A (R)Evolução do E-Business. Ed Makron Books, 2000 SIMCHI-LEVI, D.; KAMINSKY, P.; SIMCHI-LEVI, E.. Cadeia de Suprimentos – Projeto e Gestão – Conceitos, Estratégias e Estudos de Caso. Porto Alegre: Ed Bookman, 2008. STEVENS, G. C.. Integrating the Supply Chain. International Journal of Physics Distribribution, 19(8), 3--8 (1989) CHRISTOPHER, M.. Logística e Gerenciamento da Cadeia de Suprimentos – Criando Redes que Agregam Valor. Ed Cengace Learning, 2009. 23
IFAC MCPL 2013 September 11-13, 2013. Fortaleza, Brazil
BOONYANUSITH, W.; JITTAMAI, P.. The Development of Web-Based System for Blood Requisition. Seventh International Conference on Information Technology. IEEE Computer Society. 2010 ARUMUGAM, D.D.; ENGELS, D.W.. Characteristics of Passive Tags on Liquids. IEEE . 2009
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