Supporting Maintenance Work of Medical Instruments

DGSHAPE provides work support solutions utilizing its digital technology to hospital central supply rooms (CSUs), which are responsible for cleaning and sterilizing surgical instruments such as scalpels and forceps, as well as endoscopes.
Maintenance work in CSUs typically involves receiving, disassembling, cleaning, drying, inspecting, assembling, packaging, sterilizing, storing, and dispensing used instruments. Since various surgeries are performed in different departments and on different parts of the body, a wide variety of instruments are used. In order to ensure smooth operation in CSUs, it is necessary to memorize the names and uses of each instrument, how to disassemble, clean, and assemble them, and the appropriate set of instruments for each surgery. Performing appropriate procedures at each stage requires not only specialized knowledge but also a certain level of know-how based on years of experience. Furthermore, to avoid the risk of infection due to improper instrument cleaning and sterilization and ensure patient safety, thorough hygiene management, a careful work attitude with attention to detail, and a high level of ethical behavior toward health and life are required.
To reduce the physical and mental burden on workers and minimize variations in work quality, DGSHAPE has developed and offers the maintenance support system “Eirthemis,” which utilizes its long-standing human and intellectual capital related to production and the "D-PICS" (Digital Production Indicate & Control System) instruction function of the Digital YATAI* used in the production process. By observing the movements of workers on-site and listening to their intuition and tips, DGSHAPE converts tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge. DGSHAPE also develops digital manuals that are easy for everyone to understand by unraveling paper-based work instructions, breaking down each process as much as possible, and using numerous images. This standardizes the work of skilled workers, which tends to be highly individualized, while ensuring a high level of workmanship.
The CSUs of hospitals across Japan are also facing a shortage of the next generation of nurses. Skilled workers are aging and retiring, heavy workloads and often dangerous work remain. DGSHAPE believes that the D-PICS system, which incorporates experience and expertise, has excellent visibility and discrimination, and supports memory and attention, will be highly useful in the CSUs as a sustainable solution for the next generation. DGSHAPE will continue to further hone its strength in digital technology, and while working in collaboration with hospitals, will increase the versatility of its system to achieve both high work quality and productivity, with an eye toward the CSUs around the world.

* Digital YATAI:
Roland DG products are assembled with a digital cell production system originally developed by Roland DG. Operators follow the 3D graphical manual displayed on their PC screen and take out components required for each process from a parts bin. They then use the electric screwdriver instructed in the graphical manual to assemble the product. This concept not only prevents incorrect parts or screwdrivers from being used, but also allows quality inspections to be conducted for each process, which ensures that quality is maintained through each step of assembly. The system harnesses digital technology to support the operator's memory and attentiveness, and one characteristic is that the system is capable of achieving both a high level of quality and productivity. Log data of operations performed at each cell is stored on a server to give site supervisors better insight into work progress, and data analysis can be used to make improvements. Another major feature is that the system allows optimum control of production, not only of individual cells but across the entire production plant.

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