The Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) has started a "Lean Thinking Project" that involves the “Delivery of Veterinary Services to Rodents at the University of Michigan”. We feel that we must employ the concepts of lean thinking to deliver quality veterinary care to research animals to deal with the expansive growth rate of animals that has and will occur in the future.  For example, since 1995 we have nearly quadrupled our animal numbers and doubled our animal space with minimal increases in ULAM veterinary personnel. 

         Areas that we have identified as needing modifications include the clinical case reporting system along with identification and notification of laboratory personnel about animal health issues, communication with the labs about options for treatment, identification of laboratory personnel who can make medical decisions about research animals, and effective and efficient communication systems that work in animal facilities.  Ideas for improvements to these areas will be made through a series of “experiments” or “pilot projects” where ideas are tested in the field.  We have selected the areas mentioned above to begin work because we felt that these were important areas with issues that needed to be addressed.  We realize that there are other areas that will need to be addressed in the future.  As we adapt to this new operational model, please feel free to comment on how we’re doing and make suggestions for other areas or issues we may need to address.  

Current information about ULAM Lean Team projects is posted on CTools with a link from our website. (Not yet available) For further information about our team efforts or progress, please contact Karen Rogers x61701 or Howard Rush x63805.        

60 Day Review Summary