A bit of news recently at a site called SURGistrategies introduced me to a company called STERIS and its progress in moving to the full implementation of GS1 product marking standards on a global scale. For those not familiar with STERIS, the company’s history dates back to 1894 with the founding of American Sterilizer Company. Today it is a publicly traded global provider of advanced infection prevention and surgical solutions with some 5,000 employees around the world. They report on their website that in its fiscal 2011 first quarter, revenues were $291.3 million. So I’m just saying that when an organization with this kind of reach and influence announces its advocacy for GS1, it can be a signal to others that it may be time to take a closer look.
The news report gets specific about the company’s first phase of GS1 adoption, which is the use of Global Location Numbers (GLNs). It also discusses the company’s work with various Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) at this stage. But of chief interest to me were two statements by a senior executive of the company in support of global standards. Plus, the very last line had a familiar ring to it since it is a variation of what we at Loftware often say, too. See if you recognize it:
“Bar-coding is a very important transformation occurring in our industry,” states Tim Chapman, senior vice president and group president of the Healthcare Group at STERIS. “The development and use of GS1 standards will improve patient safety, reduce avoidable supply chain costs and advance collaborative supply chain performance initiatives. By working with our colleagues now and addressing issues early, we will be fully prepared for these changes and will be able to help optimize the supply chain for our customers.”
“Once the STERIS GS1 initiative is completed, Customers and industry partners will see changes to STERIS systems, labels, shipping documents, invoices and product literature,” says Chapman. “However, the most important benefit to healthcare providers will be that they can expect to see significant improvements in getting the right products to the right places, at the right times.”
“…right products to the right places, at the right times.” Of course this only works when the solution also includes having the right label at the right place, and at the right time, too. That’s the part of the solution we provide.
You can see the full news report at this link.
Filed under: GS1
