Streamlining a Simulation Center's Inventory Management

Use of simulation in undergraduate nursing education is increasing. Although research results indicate it is an effective teaching-learning strategy, little is published about how to sustainably manage the infrastructure necessary to effectively run a simulation laboratory. This article describes a collaboration with industrial engineers to develop an inventory control system that minimizes the burden on available resources, accommodates fluctuations in simulation utilization, and does not require inventory management software. The new system reduced space requirements for inventory storage by 68%, time to manage inventory by 53%, and carrying costs by 38% even with increased center utilization. Taking time to design a structured approach to inventory storage and a pull system to manage inventory reordering may be extremely beneficial to simulation centers. Our improvements highlight the potential for reducing the amount of time and money dedicated to inventory-related activities and the benefit of partnering with colleagues, such as industrial engineers, whose expertise can facilitate process redesign. More importantly in an academic setting, the time and money saved allows faculty and staff to engage in value-added activities that will enhance student learning.