Storage Solutions Part 2 and Inventory Control

Carolyn P. Phillips Georgia Department of Labor, VR Tools for Life / Pass It On Center
www.passitoncenter.org

Agenda

Introduction Carolyn Phillips

ATIA Workshops Please, send Reuse Presentations to Us! Focus: Reassign/Redistribute & Refurbish Policies, Procedures and Practices Quality Indicators

Effective Storage for AT Reuse & 13 Steps to implementation Carolyn Phillips Inventory Control - Carla Walker, Paraquad

Storage Solutions - Carla Walker, Paraquad

Questions and Answers

Defining AT Reutilization

Reassign/Redistribute: Accepts AT for sanitization, identifies appropriate users, and matches to new consumer. Refurbish: Similar to reassignment, but in addition the program restores AT to its original configuration, which may include repairing and replacing parts.
Pass It On Center National Task Force

Defining Policies

Policies
(1) statements on how the authority is to achieve its goals and objectives with regard to a specific subject area or class of subject areas. (2) A plan of action adopted by the Program, which defines its rationale for pursuing particular functions, projects, actions and/or activities.
- Wikipedia.org

Considering Storage Policies

Do you have policies regarding:

What equipment you are accepting?

Items you are NOT accepting?

Prohibited items?
How equipment is stored? Where it is stored?

Considering Storage Policies

Do you have policies regarding:

How it is processed?
How it is tracked? How it is placed in storage? How it is cleaned/sanitized? Who handles equipment? Safety? Who is allowed in your workspace? Storage Accessibility?

Defining Procedures
Procedures
(1) A step-by-step description of how the activity is conducted. If appropriate, instructions should include precautions to be taken to minimize liability.
(2) A series of steps or instructions, describing a way of doing things.
Wikipedia.org

Considering Storage Procedures

Do you have step-by-step instructions addressing areas, such as:

How to accept equipment? How to reject equipment? Addressing Prohibited items? How equipment is stored? Where it is stored?

Considering Storage Procedures

Do you have step-by-step instructions addressing areas, such as:

How it is processed?

How it is tracked?
How it is placed in storage? How it is cleaned/sanitized? Who handles equipment? Safety?

Defining Practices
Practices
(1) are the techniques, methodologies, procedures, and processes that are used in organizations to get the job done. (2) A case study considered to be a good example of a discipline.
(3) New ideas or lessons learned about effective program activities that have been developed and implemented in the field and have been shown to produce positive outcomes.
Wikipedia.org

Inventory Storage and Database Tracking

Carla Walker, Kim Walker, Mike Freehill

AT Reutilization Program for Independent Living Paraquad Inc.

Databases
Initially, and currently use, Microsoft Office

Access
AT reutilization program
Transitioning to Brightree and phasing out

Access
AT reutilization program AT repair services

Access
Microsoft database management program,

part of Office Suite.

The program enables you to maintain

databases
You can create and design as many

databases as you need. The databases are made up of objects, some of the objects we used were tables, forms, and queries.

Access Tables and Forms

Tables allow information to be entered and

stored
Forms allow data to be edited on-screen Our program utilized three tables and

three forms
Intake Donation

Recipient

Access Queries
Queries allow you select and combine

data from the forms

Our program used the queries for

reporting purposes

Example:

how many MWC are available,

how many were distributed, and how many were disposed.

Brightree
Brightree suite includes core billing,

remittance management, inventory, and retail sales modules, as well as functionality for bar coding, document imaging, and more.
Brightree is web based and there is no

hardware or software to install. Brightree is accessible 24/7 from anywhere using a standard web browser and users have secure access to information.

Brightree utilization
Both AT Reutilization and AT Repair

programs use this database for holding and maintaining device/parts inventory, client information, and billing.
www.brightree.com Demonstration available on website

Shelving

Small Shelving

Bagged DME

Industrial Sewing Machine and Battery Replacement

Warehouse Storage

Small Parts/Tire Storage

Repair Work Area

Thank-you
For questions, please contact

Carla Walker cwalker@paraquad.org Voice: (314) 289-4301 TTY: (314) 289-4252

A 10-minute walk-through can tell more about your AT Reuse operation than an hour in the conference room.

Quality Indicator: Designing your

AT Reuse Storage

Design your AT Reuse Storage area with quality standards that include:
a well-planned layout, proper location and labeling for AT parts, supplies and tools.

This can improve turnaround time and increase effectiveness.

Making Your AT Reuse Storage More Efficient

Laying out the storage area for increased effectiveness frequently means giving up storage space. Before you can design for faster product flow, you might need to reduce items in storage to free up space.
Creating a process map or equipment flowchart can help.

Making Your AT Reuse Storage More Efficient

Start by examining inventory profiles and removing obsolete stock.

Consider transferring or cleaning out slow moving equipment. Avoid placing equipment in areas where it could obstruct movement.

Once you've identified the fast-moving items, then it's appropriate to examine layout considerations for your storage space.

What would your Mom say about your Storage Space?

13 Steps to High-Productive Storage for AT Reuse

1. Think Safety First!
Your Staff Consider Ergonomics and design with principles in mind. Keep equipment within easy reach, and fit the task to the picker instead of making the picker adapt to an inadequately designed Storage area.

Think: Safety First! Resources

There's no shortage of information about ergonomics best practices, and much of it can be found online. Here are just a few examples:

OSHA's website contains excellent resources, including analytical tools, case studies, and operating guidelines. www.osha.gov The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) website contains information and a downloadable version of the institute's Elements of Ergonomics Programs. http://www.niosh.gov

Think: Safety First! Resources Cont.

Stone Wheel Works provides free, downloadable ergonomics-analysis tools that can help quantify and abate risk. http://hsc.usf.edu/~tbernard/tebstonewheels.html Washington State's Department of Labor and Industry includes helpful advice and case studies on its website. http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/Ergonomics/defa ult.asp

13 Steps to High-Productive Storage for AT Reuse

2. Think Safety First!
Your Consumers Triage? Sanitization are you putting sanitized equipment next to un-sanitized equipment?

13 Steps to High-Productive Storage for AT Reuse

3. Think Safety First!
Properly dispose of any flammable materials such as batteries and soiled, oily rags. Also, be sure to keep potentially harmful chemicals in their original containers.

13 Steps to High-Productive Storage for AT Reuse

4. Consider Accessibility
Can people move around your storage area?

Are you using signs and/or pictures?

Label storage area to make everyone aware of the equipment, tools, parts and supply locations.

13 Steps to High-Productive Storage for AT Reuse

5. Consider the Temperature
Are there significant highs and lows?

13 Steps to High-Productive Storage for AT Reuse

6. Plan for the Future
Hold a "clear out" day twice a year where you declutter, reorganize, and sell or give away unneeded items. Anticipate future storage needs by leaving some empty space.

Also, consider storage possibilities whenever you

purchase/add any piece of furniture. http://www.shipwire.com/

13 Steps to High-Productive Storage for AT Reuse

7. Observe, measure, and document your current Storage.
Take a fresh look at your Storage. Find out where people and machines sit idle as they wait to access pick slots or storage locations. Document labor and equipment flow.
Adapted from Napolitano -- Logistics Management

13 Steps to High-Productive Storage for AT Reuse

8. Analyze your AT Reuse data.
Profile inventory and shipment data to identify fast- and slow-moving Reused Equipment.

Adapted from Napolitano -- Logistics Management

13 Steps to High-Productive Storage for AT Reuse

9. Ask for Input & Develop recommendations.
Including quick fixes and short- and longterm solutions. Determine space, labor, equipment, and cost requirements for each recommendation.

13 Steps to High-Productive Storage for AT Reuse

10. Evaluate the options.
Base your evaluations on safety, costs, ease of implementation, ease of operation.

Prioritize storage by placing often-used items in the most convenient locations.

Many layout-based storage solutions pay for themselves in less than a year.

13 Steps to High-Productive Storage for AT Reuse

11. Select and verify the best design
Identify weaknesses and test "what-if" scenarios.

13 Steps to High-Productive Storage for AT Reuse

12. Implement the design
Plan a phased-in approach to ensure minimal disruption to current operations.

13 Steps to High-Productive Storage for AT Reuse

13. Evaluate and Evolve
Be proactive in your Storage Solutions grow with your program.

For Your Time & Interest!