2025年9月24日 星期三

為您的倉庫增添動力:如何更快速、更聰明地揀貨

 

為您的倉庫增添動力:如何更快速、更聰明地揀貨

在倉儲與配送的世界裡,一個常見的瓶頸會讓一切慢下來,那就是揀貨(picking)——從貨架上檢索產品以完成訂單的過程。當揀貨成為約束時,其他環節再快也沒用;整個倉庫的產出都受限於揀貨員移動的速度。這個問題會導致更長的交貨時間、不滿的客戶以及整體效率低下。

這正是應用**約束理論(Theory of Constraints, TOC)**的最佳時機,它提供了一種結構化的方法,來識別和管理系統中單一最大的瓶頸。通過應用 TOC,倉庫可以將其揀貨作業從緩慢、混亂的過程,轉變為高效、高速的引擎。


問題:走道上的瓶頸

將揀貨想像成倉庫的心臟。所有其他功能——收貨、上架、發貨——都依賴於它。當心臟虛弱時,整個身體都會受苦。虛弱的揀貨作業通常表現為:

  • 揀貨員延誤: 揀貨員浪費時間走長距離尋找物品,或者更糟的是,發現貨架空了,因為補貨還沒來。

  • 空間浪費: 組織不當的庫存意味著慢銷品佔據了靠近打包區的寶貴空間。

  • 流程不一致: 倉庫經歷著趕工和空閒的交替,導致效率低下,並在高峰期可能產生加班費。


TOC 療法:為貨架帶來節奏

解決方案是應用 TOC 的鼓-緩衝-繩(Drum-Buffer-Rope, DBR)模型,該模型專注於讓整個倉庫的運作與揀貨流程的節奏同步。

  1. 將揀貨員的最大可用性作為鼓(The Drum):

    「鼓」是設定整個系統節奏的約束。在本例中,揀貨員的最大可用性——即揀貨員的最大數量和他們最高效的揀貨速度——就是鼓。所有其他活動都必須圍繞這個能力來安排。補貨團隊不再獨立工作,而是根據揀貨團隊需要什麼、以及何時需要來決定他們的節奏。

  2. 同步補貨(緩衝,The Buffer):

    「緩衝」是放置在鼓前面的一個戰略性庫存,以確保它永遠不會沒有工作。對於揀貨作業來說,這意味著貨架必須始終是滿的。解決方案是實施同步補貨排程以防止揀貨員等待。這意味著補貨團隊不僅是在上貨架,他們是在為揀貨員準時補貨。增加臨時緩衝區給快銷品也有助於確保揀貨員隨時都能拿到他們需要的東西,而無需等待。

  3. 服從揀貨節奏(繩,The Rope):

    「繩」是將所有其他營運的節奏與鼓聯繫起來的信號。這意味著您要調整其他倉庫功能以與揀貨節奏同步。其核心是更好的貨位規劃。通過將快銷品放在靠近揀貨面,揀貨員花在走路上的時間更少,這直接提高了「鼓」的速度。揀貨排程本身也會調整,以恒定、可管理的速率將訂單流過系統,這是揀貨員可以應付的。

  4. 提升產能(必要時):

    一旦您已利用、緩衝和服從,如果揀貨速度仍然不足以滿足需求,是時候提升約束了。這時您才投資於新的產能,而且只投資於最重要的地方。這可能包括短期產能提升,例如在旺季增加臨時揀貨團隊,或為特定產品類型創建專用揀貨線。


結果:一個精益、快速的倉庫

通過應用這些 TOC 原則,倉庫可以將其揀貨作業從混亂的場面轉變為一個精益、快速運作的系統。他們不再只關注讓貨架滿載,而是開始戰略性地思考如何確保揀貨員始終處於移動狀態。這導致勞動力成本降低、錯誤減少,並顯著提升了整體產出,證明了通過優化一個關鍵區域,可以改善整個系統。


Supercharging Your Warehouse: How to Pick Faster and Smarter

 

Supercharging Your Warehouse: How to Pick Faster and Smarter

In the world of warehousing and distribution, a common bottleneck that slows everything down is picking—the process of retrieving products from shelves to fulfill an order. When picking is the constraint, it doesn't matter how fast everything else is; the entire warehouse's output is limited by how quickly pickers can move. This problem leads to longer lead times, frustrated customers, and a general lack of efficiency.

This is a prime candidate for the Theory of Constraints (TOC), which provides a structured approach to identify and manage the single biggest bottleneck in a system. By applying TOC, a warehouse can transform its picking operation from a slow, chaotic process into a highly efficient, high-speed engine.


The Problem: A Bottleneck in the Aisles

Think of picking as the heart of the warehouse. All other functions—receiving, stocking, shipping—depend on it. When the heart is weak, the entire body suffers. A weak picking operation often looks like this:

  • Picker Delays: Pickers waste time walking long distances to find items, or worse, find empty shelves because replenishment hasn't happened yet.

  • Wasted Space: Poorly organized inventory means slow-moving products take up prime real estate near the packing stations.

  • Inconsistent Flow: The warehouse experiences rushes and lulls, leading to inefficiency and potential overtime costs during peak periods.

The TOC Cure: A Rhythm for the Racks

The solution is to apply TOC's Drum-Buffer-Rope (DBR) model, which focuses on synchronizing the entire warehouse to the pace of the picking process.

  1. Identify Peak Picker Availability as the Drum:

    The "Drum" is the constraint that sets the pace for the entire system. In this case, the peak picker availability—the maximum number of pickers and their most efficient picking speed—is the drum. All other activities must be scheduled around this capacity. Instead of having replenishment teams work independently, their pace is dictated by what the picking team needs, and when they need it.

  2. Synchronize Replenishment (Buffer):

    A "Buffer" is a strategic inventory placed in front of the Drum to ensure it never runs out of work. For a picking operation, this means the shelves must always be full. The cure is to implement synchronized replenishment schedules to prevent picker waits. This means replenishment teams are not just stocking shelves; they are filling them just in time for the pickers. Adding temporary buffer zones for fast-moving items can also help ensure pickers always have access to what they need without having to wait.

  3. Subordinate to the Pick Rhythm (Rope):

    The "Rope" is the signal that ties the pace of all other operations to the Drum. This means you subordinate other warehouse functions to align with the pick rhythm. The core of this is better slotting of inventory. By placing fast movers near pick faces, pickers spend less time walking, which directly increases the "drum's" speed. Picking schedules themselves are adjusted to flow orders through the system at a constant, manageable rate that the pickers can handle.

  4. Elevate Capacity (When Necessary):

    Once you've exploited, buffered, and subordinated, if picking is still not fast enough to meet demand, it's time to elevate the constraint. This is where you invest in new capacity, but only where it matters most. This might involve short-term capacity elevation, such as adding temporary picking teams during peak seasons or creating dedicated pick lines for specific product types.

The Result: A Lean, Fast Warehouse

By applying these TOC principles, a warehouse can transform its picking operations from a chaotic mess into a lean, fast-moving system. They stop focusing on simply keeping shelves full and start thinking strategically about how to ensure pickers are always in motion. This leads to reduced labor costs, fewer errors, and a significant boost in overall throughput, proving that by optimizing one key area, you can improve the entire system.


如何終結倉庫混亂並準時發貨

 

清除瓶頸:如何終結倉庫混亂並準時發貨

在繁忙的物流與配送世界中,有一個經常出現混亂的點:出貨碼頭。這是將已完成的貨物裝載到卡車上進行運送的地方。一個常見的現實問題是這個區域超載。卡車排隊等候,承運商延遲,而倉促的、最後一刻的趕工成了常態。這個「瓶頸」阻礙了準時交貨並損害了客戶服務。

這種情況是**約束理論(Theory of Constraints, TOC)**的完美應用,這是一種管理哲學,專注於識別和管理任何系統中單一最大的瓶頸。通過應用 TOC 的原則,配送中心(DC)可以將其營運從混亂轉變為順暢、高效的流程。


問題:裝貨碼頭的瓶頸

將配送中心想像成一條產品流向單一出口的河流:裝貨碼頭。如果碼頭太小或太慢,它就像一道水壩。已打包好的棧板和貨物開始堆積在它後面。

  • 承運商延誤: 預定取貨的卡車被迫等待,導致時間浪費和承運商不滿。這可能會導致配送中心受到罰款。

  • 最後一刻的混亂: 隨著卡車出發期限的臨近,工人爭相尋找放錯位置的文件、完成打包並裝載卡車,導致錯誤和貨物損壞風險增加。

  • 糟糕的客戶服務: 所有這些延誤最終都會影響到終端客戶,他們無法準時收到訂單。


TOC 療法:平穩、受控的流程

TOC 提供了一個結構化的三步解決方案,其核心思想是鼓-緩衝-繩(Drum-Buffer-Rope, DBR)

  1. 將碼頭作為鼓(The Drum):

    在 DBR 系統中,「鼓」是約束——是決定所有其他事物節奏的系統部分。在這裡,出貨碼頭的處理能力就是鼓。不要讓倉庫的所有部分獨立運作,而是讓整個營運的節奏由碼頭能處理多少貨物來決定。解決方案是根據碼頭的能力安排裝載。如果碼頭每小時只能處理 10 輛卡車,您就不會安排 15 輛。這個簡單的改變從一開始就防止了碼頭超載。

  2. 在上游預先準備(緩衝,The Buffer):

    「緩衝」是在鼓前面的一種戰略性工作庫存。它的目的是確保鼓永遠不會因上游的小中斷而沒有工作。對於裝貨碼頭來說,緩衝至關重要。解決方案是在上游預先準備好已下單的棧板和文件。與其等到卡車到達後才收集和整理所有東西,不如事先將棧板撿貨、打包並移動到碼頭附近的指定暫存區。文件也提前準備和歸檔,隨時待命。這確保一旦碼頭的一個裝載口空出來,下一批貨物就準備就緒並等候,從而消除了最後一刻的混亂。

  3. 服從鼓的節奏(繩,The Rope):

    「繩」是最後一個環節。它是將其他營運的節奏與鼓聯繫起來的信號。這意味著您要調整撿貨和打包班次,使其與碼頭的週期同步。不要整天撿貨並讓它們在碼頭堆積,而是安排撿貨和打包在準時的時間點,將貨物送入預備區以進行裝載。這防止了庫存堆積,並使整個倉庫能夠以協調、有節奏的方式運作。


結果:準時出發

通過實施這些 TOC 原則,配送中心可以實現顯著的成果。他們不再試圖趕工,而是專注於受控、高效的流程。這種有針對性的方法避免了常見的最後一刻混亂,顯著提高了準時出貨率,並提升了承運商和客戶滿意度。配送中心不再是堆滿貨物的混亂之地,而是一個運作良好的機器,每個動作都與營運中最重要的部分——裝貨碼頭——的節奏同步。


Clearing the Choke Point: How to End Warehouse Chaos and Ship On Time

 

Clearing the Choke Point: How to End Warehouse Chaos and Ship On Time

In the bustling world of logistics and distribution, there's a point of frequent chaos: the outbound dock. This is where finished shipments are loaded onto trucks for delivery. A common real-world problem is that this area gets overloaded. Trucks stack up, carriers are delayed, and a frantic, last-minute rush becomes the norm. This "choke point" prevents timely deliveries and hurts customer service.

This scenario is a perfect application of the Theory of Constraints (TOC), a management philosophy that focuses on identifying and managing the single biggest bottleneck in any system. By applying TOC's principles, a distribution center (DC) can transform its operations from a chaotic mess into a smooth, efficient process.

The Problem: A Bottleneck at the Loading Dock

Think of a distribution center as a river of products flowing toward a single exit: the loading dock. If the dock is too small or too slow, it acts like a dam. Products, now in the form of packed pallets and shipments, begin to pile up behind it.

  • Carrier Delays: Trucks scheduled for pickup are forced to wait, leading to wasted time and frustrated carriers. This can result in financial penalties for the DC.

  • Last-Minute Chaos: As the deadline for a truck's departure approaches, workers rush to find misplaced documents, finish packing, and load the truck, leading to mistakes and increased risk of damage.

  • Poor Customer Service: All of these delays ultimately affect the end customer, who doesn't receive their order on time.

The TOC Cure: A Smooth, Controlled Flow

TOC offers a structured, three-step solution to this problem, centered on the idea of Drum-Buffer-Rope (DBR).

  1. Make the Dock the Drum:

    In a DBR system, the "Drum" is the constraint—the part of the system that dictates the pace for everything else. Here, the outbound dock's capacity is the Drum. Instead of letting all parts of the warehouse operate independently, the entire operation's pace is set by how much the dock can handle. The cure is to schedule loads around the dock's capacity. If the dock can only handle 10 trucks an hour, you don't schedule 15. This simple change prevents the dock from being overwhelmed in the first place.

  2. Pre-Stage Upstream (Buffer):

    A "Buffer" is a strategic inventory of work in front of the Drum. Its purpose is to ensure the Drum is never starved for work, even if there are small disruptions upstream. For a loading dock, the buffer is crucial. The cure is to pre-stage ordered pallets and documents upstream. Instead of waiting until a truck arrives to collect and organize everything, pallets are picked, packed, and moved to a designated holding area near the dock beforehand. Documents are prepared and filed, ready to go. This ensures that as soon as a dock bay becomes free, the next shipment is ready and waiting, eliminating last-minute chaos.

  3. Subordinate to the Drum's Rhythm:

    The "Rope" is the final piece. It's the signal that ties the pace of the rest of the operation to the Drum. This means you subordinate picking and packing shifts to align with the dock's cycles. Instead of picking products all day and letting them pile up at the dock, picking and packing are scheduled to feed the pre-staging area just-in-time for loading. This prevents inventory from stacking up and allows the entire warehouse to move in a coordinated, rhythmic flow.

The Result: On-Time Departures

By implementing these TOC principles, a distribution center can achieve remarkable results. They stop trying to rush and instead focus on a controlled, efficient flow. This targeted approach avoids the common last-minute chaos, dramatically improves on-time departures, and boosts carrier and customer satisfaction. The DC is no longer a chaotic mess of piled-up shipments but a well-oiled machine where every action is synchronized to the rhythm of the single most important part of the operation: the loading dock.


篩選存貨:如何杜絕醫藥庫存浪費並保護關鍵品項

 

篩選存貨:如何杜絕醫藥庫存浪費並保護關鍵品項

在醫藥界,庫存管理是一場高風險的遊戲。為了滿足市場需求,公司通常會持有大量不同的產品變體,即SKU(庫存單位)。然而,這種普遍做法導致了一個無聲但重大的問題:倉庫裡堆滿了慢銷品項,最終過期,迫使公司將其作為總損失註銷。同時,這種混亂會掩蓋供應鏈的真實狀況,導致關鍵的救命藥物庫存不足

這個挑戰是**約束理論(Theory of Constraints, TOC)**的經典應用案例,它為我們提供了一條清晰的道路,來確定優先順序並保護最重要的東西。TOC 幫助我們區分什麼才是真正重要的,以及什麼只是佔用空間和花費金錢。


問題:兩種 SKU 的故事

想像一家擁有數千種不同產品變體的製藥公司。有些是每天數百萬人使用的暢銷藥,而另一些則是針對特定小眾患者群體的罕見藥物。如果沒有明智的策略,庫存系統會對兩者一視同仁。這導致了:

  • 過度浪費: 低需求 SKU 在貨架上存放數月甚至數年,最終過期並被丟棄。這不僅是財務損失,也是浪費的主要來源。

  • 患者風險: 公司的注意力被分散,最重要的、快銷藥物可能無法得到應有的關注。這可能導致救命藥物缺貨,其代價遠遠超過任何財務損失。


TOC 療法:簡單的三步處方

解決方案在於將 TOC 原則應用於庫存管理。這是一種戰略性做法,重點關注產出(throughput),即系統創造金錢的速度。

  1. 根據產出對 SKU 進行排序:

    首先,我們必須停止將所有產品一視同仁。利用產出會計,我們不僅根據銷量,還根據每個 SKU 對公司產出的貢獻來對其進行排序。這意味著我們關注一個 SKU 產生的毛利潤,減去任何直接成本。更重要的是,我們也考慮其臨床價值。一種罕見的救命藥物,即使銷量很低,也具有極高的臨床產出。這一步讓我們對什麼是真正有價值的有了清晰的認識。

    數字範例:

    讓我們看看三個假設的 SKU:

    • SKU A(救命疫苗): 每月銷售 100 單位,每單位利潤 500 美元。每月產出:50,000 美元。臨床價值: 極高。

    • SKU B(常用止痛藥): 每月銷售 10,000 單位,每單位利潤 10 美元。每月產出:100,000 美元。臨床價值: 高。

    • SKU C(稀有膳食補充劑): 每月銷售 20 單位,每單位利潤 20 美元。每月產出:400 美元。臨床價值: 低。

    產出會計立即凸顯出,雖然 SKU B 的銷量最高,但 SKU A 的關鍵性質和高單位價值使其同樣重要,甚至更值得保護。而 SKU C 的貢獻則微不足道。

  2. 淘汰低績效品項:

    一旦對 SKU 進行排序,您會發現少數產品貢獻了絕大部分的產出。您還會發現一組對產出貢獻微乎其微的低影響 SKU。解決方法很簡單:通過淘汰這些非必需品來減少 SKU 數量。這釋放了原本浪費在這些幾乎沒有價值的品項上的資金、倉庫空間和管理注意力。

    數字範例:

    經過分析,公司決定停產 SKU C。通過這樣做,他們騰出了以前用於管理每月僅產生 400 美元產出的產品的空間和人力。這些資源現在可以轉向更有利可圖或更關鍵的產品。

  3. 差異化緩衝庫存:

    隨著庫存的精簡,您現在可以對剩餘品項採用量身定制的管理方法。您不再採用一刀切的安全庫存水平,而是建立差異化的緩衝庫存。

    數字範例:

    假設所有產品的典型安全庫存為 2 個月的供應量。

    • SKU A(救命疫苗): 我們將其緩衝庫存增加到4 個月的供應量,以防止任何中斷。我們現在維持 400 單位,而不是 200 單位,以確保患者永遠不會面臨缺貨風險。

    • SKU B(常用止痛藥): 我們將其緩衝庫存保持在2 個月的供應量,這對於高需求、穩定的產品來說已經足夠。我們維持 20,000 單位。

    • SKU C(稀有膳食補充劑): 由於我們已經將其從庫存中淘汰,因此其庫存供應量為 0 個月


結果:更健康的庫存

通過應用這些 TOC 原則,製藥公司可以將其庫存從雜亂、浪費的混亂狀態,轉變為一個精簡、高效的系統。他們不再關注消耗資源的產品,而是開始保護那些拯救生命的產品。這種方法不僅降低了浪費和成本,更重要的是,保護了對患者至關重要的流程,確保在正確的時間提供正確的藥物。


Culling the Herd: How to Stop Pharma Inventory Waste and Protect What Matters

 

Culling the Herd: How to Stop Pharma Inventory Waste and Protect What Matters

In the pharmaceutical world, inventory management is a high-stakes game. Companies often carry a vast number of product variations, or SKUs (Stock Keeping Units), to meet market demands. However, this common practice leads to a silent but significant problem: a warehouse full of slow-moving stock that eventually expires, forcing companies to write it off as a total loss. At the same time, this clutter can obscure the true state of the supply chain, leaving critical, life-saving drugs understocked.

This challenge is a classic case for the Theory of Constraints (TOC), which provides a clear path to prioritize and protect what's most important. Instead of treating all products equally, TOC helps us differentiate between what truly matters and what's simply taking up space and costing money.


The Problem: A Tale of Two SKUs

Imagine a pharmaceutical company with thousands of different product variants. Some are blockbuster drugs used daily by millions, while others are rare medications for a specific, small patient population. Without a smart strategy, both are treated similarly by the inventory system. This results in:

  • Excessive Waste: Low-demand SKUs sit on shelves for months or years, ultimately expiring and being thrown away. This is not just a financial loss; it's a major source of waste.

  • Patient Risk: The company's focus is spread thin, and the most important, fast-moving drugs may not receive the attention they need. This can lead to stockouts of life-saving medicines, which carries a far greater cost than any financial loss.


The TOC Cure: A Simple, Three-Step Prescription

The solution lies in applying TOC's principles to inventory management. It’s about being strategic and focusing on throughput, which is the rate at which the system generates money.

  1. Rank Your SKUs by Throughput:

    First, we must stop treating all products as equal. Using throughput accounting, we rank every SKU not just by sales volume, but by its contribution to the company's throughput. This means we look at the gross profit an SKU generates, minus any direct costs. More importantly, we also consider its clinical value. This step gives us a clear picture of what’s truly valuable.

    Example with Numbers:

    Let's look at three hypothetical SKUs:

    • SKU A (Lifesaving Vaccine): Sells 100 units per month, with a profit of $500 per unit. Monthly Throughput: $50,000. Clinical Value: Extremely high.

    • SKU B (Common Pain Reliever): Sells 10,000 units per month, with a profit of $10 per unit. Monthly Throughput: $100,000. Clinical Value: High.

    • SKU C (Rare Dietary Supplement): Sells 20 units per month, with a profit of $20 per unit. Monthly Throughput: $400. Clinical Value: Low.

    Throughput accounting immediately highlights that while SKU B has the highest sales volume, SKU A's critical nature and high per-unit value make it equally, if not more, important to protect. SKU C, however, has a negligible contribution.

  2. Cull the Non-Performers:

    Once you've ranked your SKUs, you'll find that a small number of products are responsible for the vast majority of your throughput. You'll also identify a group of low-impact SKUs with negligible throughput contribution. The cure is simple: reduce the SKU count by eliminating these non-essential products. This frees up capital, warehouse space, and management focus, all of which were previously wasted on items that provided minimal value.

    Example with Numbers:

    After our analysis, the company decides to discontinue SKU C. By doing this, they free up the space and labor previously dedicated to managing a product that only generated $400 per month in throughput. This resource can now be redirected to more profitable or critical products.

  3. Differentiate Your Buffers:

    With your inventory streamlined, you can now apply a tailored approach to managing what's left. Instead of one-size-fits-all safety stock levels, you create differentiated buffers.

    Example with Numbers:

    Let's assume a typical safety stock is a 2-month supply for all products.

    • SKU A (Lifesaving Vaccine): We increase the buffer to a 4-month supply to protect against any disruption. Instead of just 200 units on hand, we now maintain 400 units, ensuring patients are never at risk of a stockout.

    • SKU B (Common Pain Reliever): We keep its buffer at a 2-month supply, which is sufficient for a high-demand, stable product. We maintain 20,000 units.

    • SKU C (Rare Dietary Supplement): Having culled it from the inventory, we have a 0-month supplyas it is no longer stocked.


The Result: A Healthier Inventory

By applying these TOC principles, a pharma company can transform its inventory from a cluttered, wasteful mess into a lean, efficient system. They stop focusing on products that drain resources and start protecting the products that save lives. This approach not only lowers waste and cost but, more importantly, protects patient-critical flows, ensuring the right drug is always available at the right time.


加速您的醫藥冷鏈:從一級方程式賽車維修站學到的經驗

 

加速您的醫藥冷鏈:從一級方程式賽車維修站學到的經驗

一級方程式(F1)賽車的世界講求速度、精確度和零失誤。維修站(pit stop)是維修團隊在不到兩秒鐘的時間內,為賽車更換輪胎、有時甚至更換前翼的過程,堪稱是效率的典範。信不信由你,高風險、快節奏的醫藥冷鏈物流世界,可以從這些閃電般的動作中學到很多。就像一輛F1賽車需要毫無阻礙地回到賽道上一樣,您的溫控藥品也需要毫無差錯地通過供應鏈。

維修站:冷鏈瓶頸的完美類比

將您的整個冷鏈想像成一場F1比賽。旅程的每個環節——從製造到倉儲,通過海關,最終送達患者手中——都是一圈。就像賽車一樣,如果有一個緩慢的環節,您的產品可能會損失寶貴的時間,甚至更糟,被損壞。

約束理論(Theory of Constraints, TOC)教我們找到那個「緩慢點」——即瓶頸或「約束」——並加以解決。在我們的冷鏈案例中,溫控集貨轉運中心(cross-dock hub)被認定為主要約束。這就是您的維修站。在這裡,不同的貨物抵達,被快速分揀,然後裝載到其他卡車上,以進行下一段旅程。如果這個集貨轉運中心緩慢、雜亂無章或資源不足,您的整個冷鏈就會停滯,就像一次失敗的維修站操作會讓車手輸掉比賽一樣。


將 F1 維修站原則應用於您的冷鏈

讓我們分解一下,F1 維修站的效率經驗如何直接轉化為改善您的冷鏈:

  1. 確定維修站(約束):

    • F1: 維修站是一個已知的瓶頸。車隊設計整個比賽策略,就是為了最大程度地減少在那裡花費的時間。

    • 冷鏈: 我們確定了溫控集貨轉運中心。這是多個入庫貨物匯集並分揀以進行出庫運輸的地方。由於換手次數多以及對速度和溫控的要求,它是一個天然的瓶頸。

  2. 利用維修團隊(消除非增值活動):

    • F1: 每個維修站成員都有高度專業化的角色。沒有浪費的動作,沒有閒置的人手。從換胎工具的使用到千斤頂的操作,每個動作都至關重要。

    • 冷鏈: 在您的集貨轉運中心,「利用」意味著確保每個人和每件事都在最高效率下運作。消除非增值活動:員工是否在等待指令?設備是否閒置?流程是否可以簡化?就像F1車隊練習了數千次維修站一樣,您的集貨轉運中心團隊需要精簡的程序和明確的角色,以確保人員和設備的正常運作。醫藥產品每多一秒暴露或等待,風險就增加一分。

  3. 服從維修站的節奏(調整排程):

    • F1: 整個比賽策略、油量和輪胎選擇都是為了支援維修站策略而制定的。車手確切知道何時進站以及維修團隊的速度有多快。

    • 冷鏈: 與其讓供應商在他們方便的時候發貨(導致大量、不可預測的貨物批次),我們需要調整補貨批次大小和供應商排程,使其服從於集貨轉運中心的節奏。這意味著進行小型、頻繁且精確定時的交付,這樣集貨轉運中心可以高效處理而不會超載。這就像讓賽車一輛一輛地進入維修站,而不是同時湧入。

  4. 為意外情況設置緩衝(保護產品):

    • F1: 儘管不完全是「緩衝」,但車隊為維修站期間可能出現的問題(如輪胎螺母卡住)制定了應急計劃。他們還確保新輪胎已準備就緒並等候。

    • 冷鏈: 這對於溫控產品至關重要。我們引入緩衝來防禦延遲:

      • 入庫貨物時間緩衝: 為入庫貨物預留一些額外的時間。即使一輛卡車延遲了15分鐘,集貨轉運中心也不會立即陷入混亂。這就像在比賽中保持微弱領先,這樣小的維修站延遲不會讓您丟失位置。

      • 預先準備好的保溫緩衝包: 想像一下,如果維修團隊必須去另一個車庫取輪胎!通過在集貨轉運中心準備好保溫緩衝包(例如冰袋等冷卻元件),它們在轉運過程中可以立即用來保護產品,最大限度地減少暴露時間並確保溫度完整性。

登上領獎台

透過採用這些 F1 維修站原則,您的醫藥冷鏈可以實現顯著的進步。您將從被動應對故障轉變為主動、高效的系統。藥品能更快、更安全地到達患者手中,從而減少浪費、成本和法律風險。這一切都是關於認識到冷鏈中的「維修站」是贏得或輸掉比賽的關鍵點,並以一支冠軍車隊的精確度對其進行優化。