Power Supply

New Episode! 🚨 Tune in here: https://educate.beyondclean.net/4pB8yhe

On this week's re-release episode of Power Supply Articles On-the-Go, Bob Yokl argues for looking beyond a price-only view of your Supply Chain responsibilities:

"If you are just attacking the price at the pump, then you are missing huge savings opportunities in your products, configurations, deliveries, and disposal cost. While price is important, it pales in comparison to your total cost of acquisition to disposition of everything you are buying. That’s why price is only 38% of the value equation, and ..."

🚨 Check out the latest release from our Healthcare Storage Expert™, Heather Antes, Supply Chain Optimization Lead at LogiQuip®!

Download this month's article here: https://educate.beyondclean.net/3RTFLYN

"In a hospital supply room, running out of critical items isn’t just inconvenient—it can disrupt patient care. That’s where Kanban shines. This simple, visual system helps healthcare teams keep supplies flowing smoothly, with minimal effort and maximum reliability.

One of the easiest ways to use Kanban is the plastic two‑bin system. It’s as straightforward as it sounds. Each product gets two bins in one lane: a front bin and a back bin. Team members always pull from the front bin first. When it’s empty, that bin goes on the top shelf—no forms, no counting, no emails required. That empty bin is the signal to restock.

Meanwhile, the back bin slides forward so supplies stay available without interruption. Once the empty bin is refilled, it goes right back behind the active bin, and the cycle continues. Simple, visual, and wonderfully predictable.

Why the two‑bin system works so well:
- Reordering is simplified—the shelf tells you when it’s time
- FIFO happens naturally, reducing expired or unused product
- Stockouts are far less likely, even during busy shifts
- Less overstock, freeing up valuable storage space

Plastic bins aren’t perfect (we’ll dig into their limitations next month), but the two‑bin Kanban approach remains a favorite for a reason. It’s low-cost, low‑stress, and high‑impact—proof that a simple setup can make a big difference for supply chain teams and patient care alike." - Heather Antes

Stay tuned, there’s more to come next month!

I.D.N. decoded.

Healthcare supply chain is full of acronyms, and some of the most important ones shape how care is organized across an entire system.

Next up in Supply Chain Cypher: IDN or Integrated Delivery Network: A network of healthcare facilities and providers operating under one organization.

In practice, an IDN can include hospitals, ambulatory sites, physician groups, and other care settings connected under a shared system. For supply chain teams, that matters because decisions around sourcing, standardization, contracting, distribution, and inventory often need to work across the full network, not just one facility.

The larger and more connected the system, the more important it is to understand how the pieces fit together.

Because in healthcare supply chain, understanding the acronym helps you understand the strategy.

What acronym should we decode next?

Ask ten supply chain leaders about their biggest concerns, and you'll get ten different answers.

The healthcare supply chain faces a broad threat landscape, and disruptions rarely occur in isolation.

Backorders and shortages continue to force last-minute substitutions, directly affecting the OR.

Tariff and trade-policy shifts can suddenly alter costs. A less obvious crisis is workforce attrition, as institutional knowledge leaves faster than it can be replaced.

Cybersecurity risks can halt ordering, logistics, and patient care with a single breach.
Building resilience begins with honest risk identification.

So, a key question for those on the front lines: looking 18 months ahead, which one threat is most likely to seriously jeopardize your supply chain?

🔁 Press play on this Power Supply classic rewind episode! https://educate.beyondclean.net/4wXEU8i // What if your small hospital could implement a new ERP system without the usual chaos and disruption? In this week's rewind episode, we're joined by Matt Hoffmann, who brings a unique perspective on ERP implementation in rural and critical access hospitals. From building an item master from scratch (yes, from scratch!) to training small teams for seamless go-lives, Matt shares his hard-earned wisdom about conquering healthcare's most feared technology project with limited resources. Whether you're struggling with data cleansing, fighting resistance to change, or trying to secure leadership buy-in, this episode offers practical strategies for small teams tackling big technology challenges. Tune in today to discover how the right approach can transform the "Everest of healthcare tech" into a smooth journey with a view from the top!

Once you complete the interview, jump on over to the link below to take a short quiz and download your CEC certificate for 0.5 CECs! – https://educate.beyondclean.net/4pGQ3rz

G.P.O. decoded.

In healthcare supply chain, a GPO is more than another acronym tossed around in contracting conversations.

Group Purchasing Organization
An entity that aggregates purchasing volume to negotiate discounts for member healthcare facilities.

In simple terms: GPOs help hospitals and healthcare organizations use collective buying power to access better pricing, contract terms, and supplier relationships than many could negotiate on their own.

For supply chain teams, understanding how GPOs work is key to understanding contract strategy, standardization, cost savings, and product access across the healthcare system.

Because in healthcare supply chain, the better you understand the language, the better you understand the system.

What acronym should we decode next?

Throwback Thursday!

Check out this Expert Series™ article from our UDI Implementation Expert™, Ashlea Souffrou. Whether it’s your first read or a quick refresher, these insights are worth another look!

Dive into this article and explore her full series here: https://educate.beyondclean.net/4gNW4R7

Enjoy! 🎉



*This article was previously published and is being reshared for continued value.

Big wins for your Supply Chain Team! 🏆 Tune in here: https://educate.beyondclean.net/4wdnTqH

On this week's re-release episode of Power Supply Articles On-the-Go, Bob Yokl makes the case for looking at the big picture and big wins available to your hospital Supply Chain team:

"Don’t get bogged down researching special requests, or as I like to call it “trivia," when there are dozens of high-value savings targets that you should be working on. Running down these oddities might be fun to do, but it will limit the time available to you for more important work. It’s easy for us to get trapped in the “small ball” game, or..."