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On day two of the Confab, Wayne D. Mercer, PhD, a senior consultant inoperations management with Chi, delivered a presentation about the company'sunique "Lean Lab Design" approach. Drawing from more than 35 years ofexperience in laboratory strategic planning, operational improvement, outreachprogram development, and various other management capacities, Dr. Mercer'spresentation was centered on Chi's comprehensive approach to evaluating itsclients' laboratory service needs. The primary focus is on developingefficient designs for renovated laboratories and new laboratory facilities tomeet the service needs of physicians and nursing staff. The ultimate goal isto help clients establish consistency in achieving organizational goals andproviding optimal patient care.
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Dr. Mercer stated, "A specific example of our services is how we routinelyassist our clients in developing plans for automated laboratories that canprovide an absolute turnaround time of 30 minutes or less." He added, "Ourcomprehensive design approach emphasizes the value of all stakeholders byusing a balanced scorecard approach that maximizes patient andphysician/nursing staff satisfaction (consistent and improved service levels),minimizes costs (administrators/CFO's/CEO's), and maximizes employeesatisfaction (a lean and ergonomically designed work environment thatoptimizes teamwork)."
"Our portfolio of consulting services is uniquely robust," said Dr.Mercer. "Chi's core competencies include a range of services and expertise,including: Strategic Planning, Outreach, Operations Improvement, Compliance,Benchmarking, Lean/Six Sigma, Outsourced Sales, Management Services, as wellas Joint Venture Facilitation."
In describing Chi's Lean Lab Design approach, Dr. Mercer contrasted ChiSolutions' model with other consultancies. "Others approach laboratory spaceplanning by simply providing estimates based on the space required forinstruments and counters; and include a large correction factor ranging ashigh as 30 percent to estimate space requirements," said Dr. Mercer. "Chi'sprecise approach is based upon a cumulative effect of highly successfulLean/Six Sigma programs that we have developed over several years." He added,"As a result, Chi's 'adjustment factor' is typically five percent and isdesigned to account for columns or other fixed constraints that may exist inthe facility."
Chi's Lean Lab Design projects involve the deployment of a highlyexperienced staff of senior consultants supplemented by the use of specialtycontent professionals with expertise in Anatomic Pathology, Microbiology, andother clinical specialties as needed.
"We strive to develop realistic options for implementation as if we had todo the implementation ourselves," said Dr. Mercer. "In addition, we workcollaboratively with our clients' end-users to make sure that the final labdesign represents the input of those most critical to the lab's futureoperation. Referred to as Voice of the Customer (VOC) in Lean/Six Sigmaprojects, this approach is an important tool that leads to a better outcomeand a more efficient functional design." Dr. Mercer also emphasized how Chifocuses on helping its clients achieve sustainable and continuous improvementsover the long-term.
Dr. Mercer received his PhD in Medical Sciences (Pathology) and his BSdegree from the University of Florida in Gainesville. He was a PostdoctoralFellow in the Department of Pathology at the University of Florida and in
