ORAHS2025
Abstract Submission

122. A Discrete-Event Simulation Model to Improve Blood Component Production

Invited abstract in session TD-1: Blood and sepsis, stream Sessions.

Tuesday, 15:30-17:00
Room: NTNU, Realfagbygget R5

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Aleyna Gürsoy
University of Bergamo
2. ROBERTO PINTO
Management, Information and Production Engineering, University of Bergamo
3. Federico Piccinini
Delcon
4. Davide Ghezzi
Delcon
5. Ettore Lanzarone
DIGIP, University of Bergamo

Abstract

The separation of donated whole blood units into blood components, including red cells, platelets and plasma, is a complex process that requires a dedicated production site with specific equipment and skills. Despite its importance, this separation step has received the least attention in the literature dealing the Blood Donation Supply Chain. However, this production system can benefit greatly from dedicated decision support systems to improve production efficiency and quality.
In this regard, we address the blood component production process by developing a discrete-event simulation model of the production system, consisting of equipment and human resources that require close coordination.
After validating the proposed model on real data from a large production system in Northern Italy, we used it to conduct “what-if” analyses, with the aim of assessing both performance and the impact of changes to the system. For example, we compared an in-line production system, with sequential execution of operations, and a cellular production system, with operations executed in parallel. In addition, we used the simulation model to validate a previously developed scheduler based on a mixed integer linear programming model.
Based on the promising results we obtained, further analyses will be conducted considering stochastic processing times, machine failures, or to improve the shift patterns of human operators.

Keywords

Status: accepted

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