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QDescribe your operation and the role of logistics in your
company.
AThemedicalsegmentoperations at Cardinal Health consist of
more than 60 replenishment and
distribution centers across the U.S.
and Canada. We deliver a broad line
of medical products to hospitals,
ambulatory care and surgery cen-
ters, physician centers, and at-home
patients every day. We manage a
large portfolio of ambient, hazard-
ous, refrigerated, and frozen SKUs
(stock-keeping units) across numer-
ous supply chain nodes, adhering to
stringent regulatory requirements.
There is little room for error in the hospital supply chain because it puts patients
at risk. It’s crucial to have the right product at the right time. This makes the role
of logistics vital. Our team provides a
high level of service and quality at a very
low cost.
QHow do you ensure that your team is meeting those ultra-high
expectations?
AWe absolutely recognize the signif- icant responsibility and seriousness
of servicing the healthcare supply chain
as well as the potential consequences of a
failure. A hospital supply chain survey we
conducted last fall found that 18 percent
of hospital staff have seen or heard of a
patient being harmed due to a lack of
necessary supplies.
At Cardinal Health, we make a tremendous effort to ensure everyone who
works here connects with our aspiration
of being the “wings” for those who care
for patients. To achieve this, we must
operate a highly reliable and predictable
supply chain. We exert a lot of energy
assessing and mitigating risk, collaborating directly with healthcare providers and
manufacturers to understand the unique
needs of the end-to-end supply chain,
and practicing continuous improvement through operational excellence to
enhance processes.
QWhat parts of your personal skill set serve you best in the work you do
each day?
A I think there are three skills that best serve me in the work I do. The first is
listening to customers and co-workers. By
listening to our customers, we can learn
what is important to them, including
the needs and issues we can help them
address. Listening to my co-workers helps
me understand the obstacles they face and
how we can help them be more successful
and rewarded in their work.
The second is learning. Our industry
is constantly changing, and it’s important to stay abreast of new thinking and
advancements. For a culture of continuous improvement, it’s critical to remain
vigilant in studying what others are doing
