DESI - SYSTEM
Senior Thesis | 2025
Problem Statement
There are divides within the ecosystem of the hospital when is comes to supply chain and nursing. Supply chain has created structures that rely on predictions and use outdated technology to relay inventory information to other departments. In addition nursing staff are working at a fast pace, and create solutions that can disrupt supply chain’s methods. This creates tension between the two departments and slows down hospital operations and patient care.
Hypothesis
If inventory tracking is established in a way that promotes communication and the flow of information then nursing staff will be able to quickly find products and supply chain will not be forced to rely on predictions. This will result in closing the gap between supply chain and nursing, and create mr efficient patient care.
Through interviews and shadowing at Ahuja Medical Center, I discovered that both nursing and supply staff struggle with visually dense supply rooms and outdated inventory systems. I proposed that improving communication and inventory visibility could reduce stress and improve patient care.
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project presentation.
The design goals
- Implement a better system of tracking inventory throughout the building by creating a feedback loop
- Must have clean visual communication of the supplies locations
- User interface must match the fast pace work environment
- supply information should be easy to understand for finding and restocking
I explored system-based solutions inspired by retail and creator workflows, focusing on improving communication and reducing visual clutter. Early ideas included smart bins, wearable interfaces, and mobile shelving to bridge the gap between departments. Each concept aimed to create a feedback loop between supply usage and restocking.
Started to expand on what systems could be created from the initial concept phase. Determining how a wearable, smart bins, and supply cart could interact. I explored form factors, component layouts, and workflows with the goal to create a system that did not compromise speed or clarity in high-pressure environments.
The final system brings together a wearable interface, smart bins, and an autonomous robot into a clean, functional ecosystem. I focused on creating a cohesive design aesthetic that feels medical yet approachable. The wearable acts as a tool for nurse by scanning patient barcodes and allowing supply input through voice commands or patient charts. Smart bins light up to indicate the requested supplies when a nurse enters the room, streamlining retrieval. The autonomous robot refills low or empty bins and can also function as a mobile supply cart during rounds, reducing nurse workload and integrating future-facing technology.