Title: Performance optimisation of mammography clinics with non-crisp inputs by an integrated fuzzy simulation approach

Authors: Ali Azadeh; Fatemeh Rouhollah; Yashar Tavasoli; Mohammad Abdollahi

Addresses: School of Industrial Engineering and Centre of Excellence for Intelligent-Based Experimental Mechanics, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, 11365, Iran ' Faculty of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch, Khaghani St, Shariati Ave, 19395, Tehran, Iran ' School of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, 11365, Iran ' School of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, 11365, Iran

Abstract: This paper presents an integrated fuzzy simulation model for performance optimisation of mammography clinics. It estimates patients flow, length of stay and utilisation of personnel and equipments. The integrated model considers the arrival rates of patients with two modes of probabilistic and fuzzy parameters. The results of each mode is shown and compared which show that fuzzy simulation is better than probabilistic mode especially when we do not have exact input data. In this paper, we consider two models for two clinics that are different in the number of personnel and equipments. Visual SLAM is used to develop both fuzzy and conventional simulation. Furthermore, fuzzy simulation provides better solution for the mammography clinic with respect to desired outputs. Moreover, the integrated fuzzy simulation optimises the performance of the stated clinics. This is the first study that uses an integrated fuzzy simulation approach for performance optimisation of mammography clinics.

Keywords: mammography clinics; fuzzy logic; integrated fuzzy simulation; performance optimisation; fuzzy modelling; healthcare industry; patient flow; patient stay; personnel; equipment use; arrival rates; probabilistic mode; input data; visual SLAM; outputs; non-crisp inputs; mammograms; breast cancer screening.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2014.065672

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2014 Vol.19 No.4, pp.514 - 531

Published online: 15 Nov 2014 *

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