Key Areas Sample Clauses

Key Areas. The Audit Commission in its report ‘Goods for your Health’ identified key areas on which Trusts should particularly ensure that good practice can be demonstrated: Selection - choosing the right goods Procurement – ensuring that the goods are ordered, received and paid for in the most efficient way possible Prices – achieving best possible prices for goods and services Stock – ensuring reliable supply while minimising stock levels Usage – using the right amount of goods and ensuring that there is no waste People – having trained people to undertake Supplies practices Control – ensuring the maximum proportion of expenditure is influenced by Supplies professionals The Trust accepts that staff who use consumables and equipment have an important part to play in their selection. However, failure to balance individual preference with the corporate needs of an organisation can increase costs unnecessarily. It can also lead to cost and quality problems when poor choices are made. The Trust, therefore, will develop effective communication channels in respect of product selection and standardisation, which will: ensure the proper planning and evaluation of the purchase of significant items of equipment, including the use of business cases complete with an analysis of full life costs include in its business planning process the identification of equipment needing replacement enable the standardisation and rationalisation as far as possible of consumables and equipment throughout the Trust, but ensuring the involvement of clinicians and other users as well as maintenance, training and finance staff recognise the environmental impact of purchasing decisions, and incorporate this within the decision making process ensure that products purchased are ‘fit for purpose’ The aim is to ensure that goods are ordered, received, distributed and paid for in the most efficient way possible, and the Trust recognise’s the benefits available from electronic trading. The full benefits of electronic systems can only be achieved in the context of an overall supply strategy and associated policies and procedures that enable the most effective procurement. The Trust will take steps to achieve the following: Monitor and keep to a minimum the cost of ordering and the number of low-value orders by rationalising the supplier base, standardising product ranges, aggregating orders across the Trust, managing minimum order size, and examining the use of alternative methods (e.g. purchase cards) as...