A supply chain taxonomy for blood products

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) is a blood service organisation with sole responsibility for the collection, testing, processing and distribution of blood products across Scotland. A programme of restructuring to achieve greater productivity and efficiency includes the centralisation of testing and processing activities in a new National Processing Centre located in the central belt of Scotland due to open in 2017. This network restructuring presents an opportunity for the organisation to design a more resilient supply chain strategy for the future. This includes the development of a decision framework or taxonomy to support supply chain selection. Grouping products using appropriate product, demand and market characteristics will guide decision making around supply chain strategy allowing SNBTS managers to identify the best supply chain for different types of products that will ensure availability of life saving products whilst reducing the risk of wastage.
This paper first identifies the range of criteria used in devising a segmented supply chain strategy as described in the literature. A logical argument is presented to select those criteria most appropriate given the nature and purpose of the blood supply chain before applying the chosen criteria to segment products in a single case study focused on the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh Blood Bank.