Kan implementering av Lean leda till effektiviseringar i skandinavisk sjukvård?
AbstractOur purpose for making this study is to study the implementation, the use of and the effects of Lean within our case objects. We chose to make this thesis by case studies. The three themes mentioned above is also the main research questions that we aim to find an answer to by this study. We have chosen to do a cross section analysis where we conducted structured interviews to find answers to these questions. The theoretical reference frame consists partly of traditional theoreticians within Lean but also more recent research within the subject as well as theory specifically for Lean within the Health Care sector.The result of this study shows in all our case studies that the Management has been supporting the implementation, but that the implementation process proceeds faster if also the professionals are involved in the process. To succeed with the implementation there is a great need for good reasons and strives that can benefit the professionals. By the use of Lean our case studies have evaluated its processes, with the main intentions being to reduce waste activities and to create flows with ?pull systems?. The effects are that the internal processes have been clearly improved. Partly regarding quality, but foremost regarding time savings in terms of less waste activities. This has been done through factors like increasing the internal co-operations. The level of acceptance within the personal has large influence on the effects of the use of Lean, which leads back to the importance of a good implementation process.This study has covered many parts of Lean and our motive has been to analyze, without having the motive of doing an evaluation of Lean as a concept. The effects of capital tied up in warehouses, the economical measures and how the economical interaction between the hospitals and the politic world works is what we have focuses least on. These parts we recommend as future research. For future research we can also mention case studies of where the objects have implemented Lean within the whole organization (health care). It could be interesting to follow the patient from the emergency room, through the nursing process until the final stop of being discharged. We see the definition ?customer value? as an ambiguous term. Is it enough to reduce what is not of value for the customer or should one give the costumer quality above what is expected? It would be interesting to study this through interviews with customers to companies who are using Lean.