Staffing Standstill and Solutions (Part 2)

Healthcare foodservice labor shortage: Learn how to streamline your organization by incorporating 5S and LEAN techniques into daily operations.

 

It is no secret the healthcare foodservice industry has been facing challenges due to a labor shortage, and resource limitations have led to an increased focus on efficiency and productivity. Implementing the sort, straighten, shine, standardize and sustain method, or 5S, has been proven to optimize efficiency for several industries, including healthcare foodservice, and can help mitigate some labor issues they’re facing.

 

What is 5S?

The 5S methodology, a component of the Kaizen principle of LEAN Manufacturing, is a systematic approach to workplace organization that originated in Japan. By implementing 5S into healthcare foodservice, operations can improve safety, reduce waste and create a more structured work environment, providing management with the necessary tools to work toward continuous improvement.

Steps in the 5S process:

  1. Sort: Separate items in the workspace into three categories: keep, discard and relocate.

  2. Straighten: Create a designated area for each item in the workspace.

  3. Shine: Clean the workspace and associated tools.

  4. Standardize: Create procedures to bridge the gap between sort, straighten and shine.

  5. Sustain: Ensure the 5S methodology is used consistently.

 

Ways to incorporate 5S into your healthcare foodservice operation

When operational issues arise within healthcare foodservice, 5S can be the determining factor of success. One pain point Aladdin Temp-Rite sees within these operations is the tray assembly area.

Patient meal customization, limited workspace, and delivery logistics are all factors that can lead to inefficient tray assembly. Not only will this compromise a patient's overall satisfaction and recovery, but it can also leave healthcare organizations with low Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores.

Integrating tray assembly workstations with 5S can help streamline workflow, allowing foodservice staff to assemble patient trays instantaneously.  

Start 5S within tray assembly by:

  1. Sorting: Remove any unnecessary items or non-essential equipment for the tray assembly process. Identify and keep only the necessary tools and materials for assembling the trays. Reducing clutter streamlines the process.

    1. Essential materials may include Aladdin Temp-Rite’s air-curtain refrigerators, 5-well steam tables, and stainless-steel worktables.

  2. Straightening: All essential equipment and materials should be organized logically and conveniently. Place necessary tray assembly items in designated areas near the staff to streamline workflow.

    1. The Aladdin Temp-Rite starter station and tables optimize space utilization at the outset of tray assembly while providing convenient storage areas, ensuring a smooth tray assembly process without disruptions.

      To further facilitate the straightening phase, storage racks can effectively accommodate washing, drying, and storing Aladdin bases or domes.

      The tray assembly and storage equipment provided by Aladdin enhance workstations, creating efficient processes that increase speed and maximize kitchen space.

    2. Aladdin’s beverage and condiment caddies for SC or MD carts directly supports the goal of straightening by providing designated and well-arranged bins that keep condiments neatly organized and accessible.

  3. Shining: Regular cleaning and equipment maintenance are essential for maintaining a hygienic and safe tray assembly environment. Implement a cleaning schedule for the tray assembly equipment and sanitize these surfaces before and after each use to prevent contamination and ensure food safety.

  4. Standardizing: Create standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the tray assembly process. Standardization ensures consistency and reduces errors during the assembly.

    1. Workstations designed by Aladdin create a mirroring effect. Equipment is identical in each station, ensuring every employee’s workflow is the same.

  5. Sustaining: Sustaining the 5S improvements requires continuous monitoring and commitment from the team. Regularly review the tray assembly process to ensure the 5S principles are adhered to. Encourage feedback from the staff to identify any potential issues or areas for improvement.

 

Sharing success: elevating experiences for our valued customers

Collaborating with Baystate Medical Center's in-house engineering team, Aladdin designed an optimized layout for two identical tray assembly pods. This approach allowed multiple staff members to assemble patient trays with all tools conveniently accessible, improving efficiency and speed.

Partnering with Seton Medical Center Austin allowed Aladdin Temp-Rite to provide tailored workstations that optimized space and created an efficient process for foodservice staff.

 

Aladdin Temp-Rite’s magic touch: operation and project services

With more than 50 years of experience, we know LEAN principles have countless benefits. Our operation and project services allow us to partner with healthcare facilities and specify the best equipment and systems for their foodservice operations while developing best practices and processes.

The collaborative effort between internal and external teams will provide a unique experience allowing the in-house staff to understand the internal workflow better and generate new concepts and implement solutions.

Aladdin offers a range of services related to foodservice department projects, from evaluation and selection to installation and training. The benefits include:

  • Cost reduction

  • Improved employee and patient satisfaction

  • Invaluable insights from an experienced team

  • Ergonomic tray assembly layout

  • Best-practice workflow

  • Patient meal-delivery optimization

The Aladdin Temp-Rite operation and project service is an aid to the healthcare foodservice labor shortage, allowing operations to make use of available resources while building team rapport. Our services in combination with 5S create a powerful tool for improving efficiency and increasing productivity.