We have done two Six Sigma projects with Bangalore Institute of Oncology. Both projects were meant for increasing productivity of Gamma Camera Computer.

Cycle Time Reduction in Renogram Analysis in Starcam 4000i was the first project. The task was to reduce the time taken to do Renogram analysis from about 5 minutes to less than 3 minutes. There was also a need to make the reports simple. The project used simple tools like process maps to analyse the cause of the long analysis time. A new algorithm was developed which reduced the time for analysis by about 41% with a Zst of 5.98.

Cycle Time Reduction in Myocardial Processing in Starcam 4000i was the second project. Here the task was to reduce the time taken to do the Myocardial Processing from about 12 minutes to less than 5 minutes. A new algorithm was developed which automated the process and reduced the processing time to about 4 minutes 20 seconds which was a 64% improvement. The final Zst was 5.29.

The Team in Bangalore Institute of Oncology (BIO) was educated about Six Sigma and methodologies to be followed. BIO Team chose the ihImproving Patient Throughput ih as their project. The Critical to Quality areas were identified together with the Wipro GE Team. Wipro GE helped the BIO Team measuring and analysing the current processes and procedures, identified change of codes in the software to automate the processes. The results talk for itself -- Average of 350 cases attended per month compared to 150-250 before Six Sigma methodology was implemented. Congratulations to the BIO and Wipro GE Team. BIO Team: Dr.Srinath, Director, Dr.K G.Kallur-Consultant, and Mr.Purandran-Technologist.

The maximum number of patients per month in most of the Nuclear Medicine Centres in India is approximately 150-230 (equipped with one single head Gama Camera and eight working hours per day) . In Bangalore Institute of Oncology the Average number of cases per month is 350(Range: 330 to 400). This is possible mainly because most of the software are automated and fine-tuned using Six Sigma methodologies.

Dr Kallur receiving ACFC Certificate
from Jeff Immelt, President and CEO, GE Medical Systems

Dear Sir,

2/06/2000

It gives me great pleasure to write about the software which was created by using Six Sigma methodology by Application Specialist on our GE Starcam 4000i system.

I was earlier using Siemens Gamma Camera with Icon Computer. I had great difficulty to adjust to GE Gamma Camera with 4000i Computer software. But GE upon my request made a software, which helps me immensely in my routine day to day work.

Software created in our centre is a blend of the best features available on Siemens and GE platforms. This has helped me to reduce the time significantly for acquisition of various studies and to minimize to great extent the operator intervention related errors in processing the studies. On an average there is 40% reduction in the processing time mainly on Cardiac and Renal applications and increased throughput.

I am satisfied with the performance of this custom made software. There has never been a single breakdown of the system and there are no bugs ΠThanks to Six Sigma methodology. This type of co-operative effort helps to foster greater trust and bond between the company and its customer.

Dr. K.G . Kallur
Consultant, Nuclear Medicine