失效模式與效應分析及無線射頻識別技術於疫苗配送流程之應用

The Applications of the FMEA and RFID Technologies in Vaccines Distribution

疫苗為高單價產品，對溫度敏感且具時效性，一旦發生溫度改變或是其他原因，造成疫苗變質、毀損等情況，可能造成疫苗功能失效，不僅產生龐大的金錢損失，甚至造成社會成本損失。有鑑於此，本研究針對低溫疫苗配送流程進行企業流程再造（Business Process Reengineering, BPR），運用失效模式與效應分析手法（Failure mode and effects analysis, FMEA）及無線射頻識別（Radio Frequency Identification, RFID）技術，建立疫苗配送的標準化作業流程，並開發一套具有緊急預警功能的疫苗配送流程監控資訊系統。本研究開發之資訊系統可以即時監控疫苗在配送流程的溫濕度，且緊急預警功能之設計，如果疫苗可能進入異常狀態，可提早警告使用者，使其可以提前進行緊急處理。根據本研究之敏感度分析，本研究開發之資訊系統因為可以有效避免疫苗發生失效情況，故具有相當高的成本效益，而且因為資訊系統提供充分通透度，可顯著提昇疫苗配送流程之可靠度與保有疫苗品質的安全性。

Vaccines are high-value products with higher sensitivity to temperature control than other products. When the temperature readings of vaccines fall in out of-control range, the batch of vaccines will be discarded due to safety consideration, and it usually incurs not only a huge financial loss, but also possible social cost. In order to solve this problem, we employ the techniques of Business Process Reengineering (BPR), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to propose a Standard Operating Procedure and develop an information system for monitoring the distribution processes of vaccines in this study. The proposed RFID-based monitors the temperature readings of vaccines during the distribution process in a real-time fashion. Also, our proposed system also highlights its alerting function that is able to show warnings and to allow the users some time for taking actions in advance. Following our sensitivity analysis, we assert that our proposed sys tem is able to save considerable costs by preventing failure of vaccines. Also, since the proposed RFID-based information system can effectively facilitate the transparency so as to improve the reliability of the distribution process and to secure the quality of vaccines.