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Can car manufacturing techniques reform health care.

Authors :
McCarthy, Michael
Source :
Lancet. 1/28/2006, Vol. 367 Issue 9507, p290-291. 2p.
Publication Year :
2006

Abstract

The article looks at how a number of hospitals in the United States have begun adopting Toyota Motor Corp.'s management techniques, including those related to cost cutting, error reduction and patient satisfaction. The author reviews how the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington has sent teams of observers to study how the company operates. The development and history of the "Toyota Development System" is reviewed. According to the author, the goal of the approach is to refine production so that work flows smoothly from one step to the next with no wasted time, effort, or resources. Comparisons between how the approach is applied to the automobile manufacturing industry and how it might be applied to health care are discussed.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
01406736
Volume :
367
Issue :
9507
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Lancet
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
19520480
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68053-7