Background: Laboratories in Sweden have a big challenge when Sweden is a wide country and big parts is sparsely populated and many samples have limited durability. At same time as laboratories is a sensitive branch with high demands on time and quality which makes a functional internal and external logistic important. Purpose: The purpose is to increase the understanding of internal sample flows for companies who works with sample analysis, by analyse sample flows in companies that is analysing samples, from a logistic perspective. To answer the purpose, two research questions are formulated: ·        What limitations can be identified in internal sample flows from delivery to analyses done for companies working with analyses of samples? ·        How can limitations in internal sample flows be handled from delivery to analyses done for companies working with analyses of samples? Method: A case study has been made on Eurofins laboratory in Lidköping where data has been collected by interview studies and observations. Result: By the logistic perspective several possibilities to increase the efficiency have been found. By logistic tools proposals have been made how those hindrances can be handled. Those possibilities to increase the efficiency is: Consolidation activities Failsafe Standardizations Overlook unload/loading of trucks Make the sample flow even during the week Conclusions: In this study have the writer made several recommendations for companies that is working with analysing samples. But it is important to consider that those recommendations are case-specific, but if same conditions occur is the result possibly to generalize.

Background – The last 20 years healthcare has been facing increased demands on efficiency and increased customer satisfaction. This despite reduced resources and increasing demand. These demands are presents in all departments within healthcare organisations, including medical laboratories that currently receive an ever-increasing number of remittances. Laboratory flows are quickly becoming overloaded with samples and related materials. According to research, this can be facilitated by the means of a logistic approach. Purpose – The purpose of this study is to facilitate the work of medical laboratories by: Analysing how medical laboratory flows can improve efficiency with the help of a logistic approach. To fulfill the purpose were two issues presented, these are as follows: How can medical laboratory flows be smoothened out, when the inflow is uncertain? What types of waste can be identified in medical laboratory flows, and how can these be addressed? Method – A case study was performed at the pathology laboratory at Länssjukhuset Ryhov in Jönköping to facilitate the collection of empirical data for the study. The empirical data were analysed using the theory of improved efficiency according to logistics, this theory was obtained through a literature review. Results and conclusions – The results demonstrate that by using a logistic approach can multiple improvement opportunities and wastage be identified and addressed. With the help of tools and philosophies in logistics laboratory flows can be smoothened out and get an increased capacity by minimizing the variation of the internal processes. The identified wastes are addressed by applying already developed methods from the industrial field. The previously developed methods were adapted to fit medical laboratories and were the basis for the study's proposed actions. Recommendations – The authors' recommended actions for medical laboratories follows below. However, it should be taken into consideration of that the recommendations is case-specific, but are also generalisable to the extent that the conditions in medical laboratories are similar. • Increase communication between the laboratory and other healthcare units. • Redistribute the human resources between stations to optimize the flow capacity and reduce internal variations. • Increase work with 5S and improvement activities to facilitate the daily work. • Utilize performance goals by using visual control together with creating involvement and participation. / Bakgrund – Sjukvården har de senaste 20 åren fått ökade krav på effektivisering och ökad kundtillfredsställelse. Detta trots minskade resurser och en ökande efterfrågan. Dessa krav ställs på alla avdelningar inom sjukvården, däribland medicinska laboratorier som idag får ta emot ett ständigt ökande antal remisser. Laboratorieflödena blir snabbt överbelastade med prover och provrelaterat material. Enligt forskning kan detta underlättas med hjälp av ett logistiskt synsätt. Syfte – Syftet med studien är att effektivisera arbetet för medicinska laboratorier genom att: Analysera hur medicinska laboratorieflöden kan effektiviseras med hjälp av ett logistiskt synsätt. För att uppfylla syftet togs två frågeställningar fram, dessa lyder enligt följande: Hur kan medicinska laboratorieflöden jämnas ut, när inflödet är osäkert? Vilka slöserier kan identifieras i medicinska laboratorieflöden, och hur kan dessa åtgärdas? Metod och genomförande – En fallstudie utfördes på patologilaboratoriet på Länssjukhuset Ryhov i Jönköping för att möjliggöra insamlandet av empiri till studien. Empirin har analyserats med hjälp av teori kring effektivisering inom logistik, denna teori anskaffades genom en litteraturstudie. Resultat och slutsatser – Studiens resultat visar att med hjälp av ett logistiskt synsätt kan flertalet förbättringsmöjligheter och slöserier identifieras och åtgärdas. Med hjälp av verktyg och filosofier inom logistik kan flödet jämnas ut och få en ökad kapacitet genom minimering av variation i de interna processerna. Även de identifierade slöserierna åtgärdas genom att applicera redan framtagna metoder inom industriella verksamheter. De tidigare framtagna metoderna anpassades till medicinska laboratorier och var grunden till studiens rekommendationer. Rekommendationer – Författarnas rekommendationer till medicinska laboratorier följer nedan. Det bör dock tas i akt att dessa rekommendationer är fallspecifika, men är även generaliserbara i den mån att förutsättningarna på medicinska laboratorier är likartade. Förbättra kommunikationen mellan laboratoriet och övriga vårdenheter. Fördela om personalresurser mellan stationerna för att optimera flödets kapacitet och minska interna variationer. Införa arbete med 5S- och förbättringsaktiviteter för att underlätta arbetet. Utnyttja resultatmål genom visuell styrning samt skapa engagemang och delaktighet.