Wednesday
Sep302009
From Mill to Customer: Simulating a Multi-Mode Distribution Network
Norske Skog Canada's Newsprint Division is a high volume manufacturer of newsprint. With a heavy and bulky commodity and customers widely dispersed throughout the world, shipping is a significant cost center for the company. In 1999, for example, Norske Skog (then Fletcher Challenge Canada) spent in excess of $100 Million in freight charges. While already a successful distribution system, it was clear that even minor improvements in the efficiency of the overall network would lead to significant cost savings.
Cost ReductionTuesday
Sep292009
Homeless Services Bed Capacity Simulation
New York City Department of Homeless Services
New York City’s Department of Homeless Services is subject to a ‘Right to Shelter Law’. Simply put, this means that anyone who presents themselves to a shelter must be given a bed. NovaSim developed a simulation model that allows NYC DHS to plan its bed capacity, so that they can be sure to match the highly variable, seasonable demand for shelter.
Tuesday
Sep292009
Patient Flow Simulation
US Government Department of Indian Health Services
A generalized discrete event simulation tool was utilized for the analysis of client flows in a system of 13 outpatient clinics for the US Government's Indian Health Services (IHS) Organization in Billings, MT. This tool, used by IHS analysts, with support from NovaSim, helped to redesign their client flows in order to better serve client needs.
Tuesday
Sep292009
Emergency Department Simulation
Johns Hopkins Medical Institute
A comprehensive study of three Emergency Departments within the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. This project involved initial process analysis, a large data collection and analysis effort, as well as the development of a discrete event simulation model. Using the first site as a baseline, we developed a generalized tool that was then applied to the final two Emergency Departments in the system. As part of this project, we have had to work with and understand the bed allocation policies in the larger hospital setting.
Tuesday
Sep292009
System Wide Patient Flow Improvement
Vancouver Coastal Health
SUMMARY
As the result of an extensive open bid process, Vancouver Coast Health (VCH) engaged NovaSim to develop a simulation-based analysis tool in support of its large patient flow improvement initiative. The simulation tool analyzes dozens of patient types, hundreds of patient flow pathways and multiple facilities. The project succeeded in providing VCH with a tool to develop effective strategies for: (1) identifying obstacles to smooth patient flow (2) best matching operational capacity (beds) with current and anticipated patient needs (3) improving the patient experience by reducing delays.