To "fully automate without people" for accurate management
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This time, we asked Mr. Kurobe of the Quality Improvement Section of the Quality Control Department about the background to the introduction of the smart mat cloud, the reason for the introduction, and the impressions after the introduction.
Please tell us about your business
We provide services to clean and sterilize equipment used by patients in hospitals. In the hospital, there is a department called "Central Materials Office" that cleans, assembles, sterilizes medical equipment, etc., and we are entrusted with the work within that department.
We use washing machines and sterilizers to remove infectious materials, clean equipment→ and →silly sterilize equipment" used and returned to patients.
What were the challenges of inventory management and ordering before the introduction of Smart Mat Cloud?
More efficient cleaning operations and less burden on workers
Washing machines that clean medical equipment are automatically equipped with cleaning agents, and basically they are weighed and put in correctly, but when a failure occurs, the cleaning agent cannot be sucked up and sufficient cleaning effect cannot be obtained, so it was necessary to build an operation to avoid this risk.
As a risk workaround, we drawn a line on the cleaning agent bottle and visually checked and recorded whether the cleaning agent was being consumed reliably.
The operation method to visually check the detergent consumption is also a problem
Several times a day, the position of the liquid level was measured with the eyes of a person, and each time, the position of the liquid level was marked by drawing a line on the detergent bottle.
By checking whether the cleaning agent was consumed and the liquid surface was lowered, it was confirmed that the cleaning agent was automatically turned on.
In addition, since cleaning agents are installed on the floor and in low places, the burden of checking every time by the worker was also a problem.
Visually check the position of the liquid surface by drawing a line
How do you operate the Smart Mat Cloud?
The smart mat cloud automatically measures whether the liquid cleaning agent attached to the washing machine that cleans the equipment is properly consumed when it is automatically turned on.
It is used under a bottle of liquid cleaning agent of about 4 kg when full, installed under the washing machine.
Installation scenery
What was the reason for learning about Smart Mat Cloud?
I found it on the Internet while collecting information from the viewpoint of business automation of my company. After that, I contacted them at the exhibition and had a business talk.
Were other inventory management systems compared and examined?
Initially, we were considering in-house development of cleaning agent input issues (with cooperating companies). However, the introduction cost per cleaning device is 300,000 to 500,000.
The weight information was visually checked by the recording paper in a stand-alone (* environment operating alone without connecting to a network or other equipment).
In addition, since there was a problem that a power supply was required at the time of installation, we were considering whether there was an easy installation without needing a power supply.
Please tell us the deciding factor that led to the introduction of Smart Mat Cloud.
In the in-house developed system that we were considering, the cost of introduction to each facility was also high, and from the viewpoint of information, it was not digital data and data aggregation.
On the other hand, smart matte cloud can be easily digitized by being able to use both hardware and software, and the low price was the key.
What was the effect of introducing Smart Matte Cloud?
There is no longer a person-based confirmation work that can be done up to six times a day. I also feel that it is very effective to accurately measure the consumption of cleaning agents that were intended for introduction.
Not only that, but also the measured data remains, and it is very convenient to be able to output it as a CSV. In addition, we feel that it is effective in avoiding risks in the event of a malfunction of the washing machine.
Smart mat cloud management screen
What was the reaction of the staff at the site?
Bottles with cleaning agents are often installed in narrow places or under washing machines, so when checking with people's hands, it was really hard work, such as being narrow, dark, or dirty.
Now that we've lost that kind of work, we've heard a lot of joy, "I've been able to focus on my core business, and I've been able to take the time to respond to customers."
