Health center-supplier team approach to solving i.v. equipment problems.

A team approach to problem solving in which a health care center and a supplier worked together to improve product quality is described and a detailed example is provided. When the health care center began using a new supplier for i.v. solutions and equipment, the supplier's incomplete product line and recurrent functional problems with products led to dissatisfaction of staff members. The supplier suggested that the health care center and supplier form a quality action team. The team addressed eight product concerns by using a total quality management process. For each concern, the team defined the problem and formulated a problem statement, collected data and determined the contributing factors to the problem, developed an action plan for solving the problem, and executed the plan and monitored its impact. After the first meeting, the team met monthly to monitor progress and discuss new ways they could work together to improve product quality and reduce costs. The implementation of the action plans allowed the health care center to realize cost savings and increased staff members' satisfaction with the supplier's products. A quality action team, composed of representatives from a health care center and one of its suppliers, used a total quality management process to solve problems to the satisfaction of both sets of participants.