Value Chain Strategies of Linen Logistics Management: The Case of a University Hospital Planning a Tri ple Expansion (Thailand)

Abstract

This study observed one case hospital, a tertiary care teaching hospital (1670 beds). The research purposed to investigate the value chain strategies to cope with the current linen shortage while exploring extra approaches and technology for its upcoming expansion, which will triple its current size. Data was collected via in-depth interviews, observations, documentation, experiment and developed checklists, in which the data obtained was managed by the content analysis method. Factors regarding successes and failures as well as the root causes and resolutions of the problems associated with this operation were identified. Obviously, the case hospital adopted two key practices: one was leasing a tunnel washer, and another was hiring the third-party logistics company to deliver clean linen. However, new practices lost the hospital budget around 50 million Baht, thus it was not suited to this early-stage of expansion. Effective value chain strategies were suggested such as using only in-house laundry personnel to operate linen services, obtaining the motorized carts for the delivery, using the designed routes, and leasing only important machines of the tunnel washing system. The findings indicate the need for restructuring policy planning and establishing purposes to generate a true value to users during this preparation for massive enlargement.