New Research Unlocks the Potential of Operations Management in Hospitals: Revolutionary 3P Methodology Transforms Healthcare Efficiency
Bevington Partners
Melbourne, Australia – A groundbreaking study published in the Australian Journal of Management, reveals a transformative approach to Lean Management that addresses its historically low success rates. The innovative 3P digitised method (commercially known as XeP3) is set to revolutionise hospital administration and healthcare operations by delivering rapid, sustainable improvements in efficiency, cost savings, and employee satisfaction.
Case Study: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
The research highlights the remarkable success of the 3P digitised approach at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. By applying the 3P digitised method, the average delay for CT scans was reduced from 29 days to same-day service—a life-changing improvement for patients with serious illnesses. This intervention saved the Centre $1 million annually by eliminating urgent imaging costs while simultaneously increasing operational capacity and staff morale.
Dr David Speakman, former Chief Medical Officer at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (2013–2023), praised the methodology:
"This work enabled us to capture the whole role that our staff members play in patients' delivery of treatment to get a 360-degree view. It really enabled us to drill down on the things where we can deliver value-added extras to the patient and remove things that are wasting patients' time and energy."
Why Hospitals Should Care
The 3P digitised methodology addresses longstanding challenges in operations management by integrating both social and technical aspects of process improvement. Unlike traditional approaches that often fail due to fragmented implementation or resistance to change, 3P engages employees deeply in documenting inefficiencies and proposing solutions. This bottom-up approach fosters ownership, trust, and actionable insights.
Professor Danny Samson from the University of Melbourne emphasised the broader implications: "Our findings demonstrate that a systematic, end-to-end management approach can significantly enhance operational efficiency by reducing waste across processes, enabling faster throughput and higher responsiveness to customer needs."
Key Benefits for Healthcare Organisations
- Rapid Implementation: Employee capture of tasks and inefficiencies was completed within just two – three weeks—even in large organisations—enabling swift data collection without lengthy interviews.
- Waste Reduction: Across 268 projects spanning industries, including healthcare, the median waste was approximately 35%, freeing up significant capacity for value-adding activities.
- Sustainable Change: Behavioural Change Indicators (BCIs) ensure adherence to process improvements over time, creating a "new normal" in operational standards.
- Employee Empowerment: Staff involvement not only uncovers hidden inefficiencies but also fosters a sense of purpose and collaboration.
Dr Speakman added: "Resistance to improvements was not a problem here. The involvement of staff in identifying issues and proposing solutions created a sense of ownership and commitment to the changes."
A Game-Changer for Medical Administration
The study demonstrates that even complex processes involving multiple roles can be analysed efficiently using 3P. At Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, over 7,000 activities were coded and noise drivers identified—proving that large-scale healthcare operations can benefit from this method.
Professor Samson underscored its strategic impact:
"By addressing the sociotechnical gap in operations management, businesses can achieve sustainable improvements that align operational processes with strategic goals, ensuring long-term competitiveness."
With proven results across industries—including healthcare—this approach represents a practical solution for organisations seeking to save money, improve patient outcomes, and foster employee satisfaction.
- ends -
Key Facts:
1. Proven Impact on Patient Outcomes and Operational Efficiency
The 3P digitised methodology, as demonstrated at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, significantly improved patient care by reducing CT scan delays from 29 days to same-day service. This life-changing improvement also saved $1 million annually, showcasing its ability to enhance both patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
2. Rapid Implementation with Minimal Disruption
Unlike traditional Lean approaches, the XeP3 platform enables organisations to complete task documentation and inefficiency identification within two to three weeks. This streamlined process ensures swift data collection and actionable insights without lengthy interviews or operational downtime.
3. Sustainable Improvements through Employee Engagement
The methodology integrates social and technical aspects of process improvement, fostering deep staff involvement. By empowering employees to identify inefficiencies and propose solutions, it creates a sense of ownership and commitment, ensuring long-term adherence to new operational standards.
4. Quantifiable Waste Reduction Across Processes
Research has shown that the median waste (“noise”) across industries—including healthcare—is 35%, which translates into significant capacity gains. The XeP3 platform identifies and eliminates this "Noise," freeing up resources for value-adding activities while enhancing responsiveness to patient needs.
5. Strategic Alignment with Organisational Goals
The XeP3 methodology addresses complex processes efficiently, aligning operational improvements with broader strategic objectives. By leveraging data analytics, healthcare organisations can achieve measurable results that strengthen competitiveness, reduce costs, and improve patient satisfaction.
About us:
About XeP3
XeP3 is a cutting-edge process improvement platform that guarantees measurable results in just six weeks. Backed by over 20 years of research from the University of Melbourne, XeP3 helps organisations eliminate waste, or "Noise," which typically accounts for 35% of wasted time in operations. By targeting the root causes of duplicated efforts, corrections, and delays, XeP3 creates up to 20% additional capacity—equivalent to one day per week per employee.
Trusted by leading organisations globally, XeP3 is the go-to solution for businesses seeking fast, safe, and lasting change. Whether preparing for automation or simplifying operations, XeP3 delivers unmatched performance transformation
About Bevington Partners
The people behind XeP3 and exceptional productivity results. Working with corporate improvement teams and management consultancies, Bevington Partners are dedicated to helping its clients to deliver the strongest results they can with XeP3. From training staff in Lean process reengineering to helping new clients implement the tool into all areas of their business, Bevington Partners are catalysts for improvement.
https://bevingtonpartners.com/
Contact details:
For further details or interviews with Professor Danny Samson, Dr David Speakman or Diana Bevington please contact:
Media Contact: Richard Anderson
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +61 467 782 617
- Images
-
Download
XeP3 wheel with DMAIC words.png
The 3P (commercially known as XeP3) digitised method framework.
