Date of Graduation

8-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Industrial Engineering (MSIE)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Industrial Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Rossetti, Manuel D.

Committee Member

Pohl, Edward A.

Second Committee Member

Buyurgan, Nebil

Keywords

Forecasting; Gap analysis; Healthcare supply chain; Multi-echelon inventory management

Abstract

This research lays a foundation for the better understanding of the application and acceptance of more advanced inventory control practices within the health care supply chain. The demand characteristics and optimal control policies for pharmaceutical items within a multi-echelon provider network are examined within the framework of a case study. Demand forecasting algorithms were applied to forecast demand for inventory control procedures. A spreadsheet-based inventory planning tool was used to minimize the inventory holding and ordering costs subject to fill rate constraints. The costs of inventory control models are compared to the current ordering and inventory control strategies to document potential cost savings using both a single echelon analysis and a multi-echelon analysis. The results indicate that there is great potential for significant cost savings within the provider network. It is likely that if other providers adopt such practices that they will be able to better control material supply costs.

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