@article {Kigenzae2200295, author = {Rogers Kigenza and Eliezer Nsengiyumva and Vincent Sabagirirwa}, title = {The Quality Management Improvement Approach: Successes and Lessons Learned From a Workforce Development Intervention in Rwanda{\textquoteright}s Health Supply Chain}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, elocation-id = {e2200295}, year = {2023}, doi = {10.9745/GHSP-D-22-00295}, publisher = {Global Health: Science and Practice}, abstract = {Key FindingsHigh staff turnover, limited training, and lack of capacity for supply chain activities contributed to challenges in the supply chain management system, including stock-outs and stock inaccuracies.The Quality Management Improvement Approach contributed to significant improvements in staff recording of commodity consumption, using the electronic logistics management information system, and keeping accurate inventory data, as well as reduced stock-outs for all types of commodities.The approach addressed performance gaps created by staff turnover, fostered an improvement in communication between supply chain workers at different levels, and facilitated developing local solutions to resolve issues and challenges in supply chain operation and management.Key ImplicationThis approach can be implemented in other settings having issues with end-to-end data visibility and with supply chain personnel operation and communication.Background:Rwanda{\textquoteright}s supply chain is decentralized, with regional warehouse pharmacies and service delivery points (SDPs) ensuring a reliable health commodities supply. However, in 2016, the Rwanda Ministry of Health (MOH) identified challenges with the supply chain workforce contributing to a high stock-out rate, inventory stock inaccuracies, and underutilization of the electronic logistics management information system (e-LMIS). We aimed to document successes and lessons learned from implementing a workforce development intervention to address these challenges.Program Description:Rwanda{\textquoteright}s MOH and the U.S. Agency for International Development Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management project implemented a workforce development intervention, the Quality Management Improvement Approach (QMIA), to improve and sustain Rwanda{\textquoteright}s service delivery and medicines availability. The QMIA monitors the performance of supply chain professionals while continuously building their capacity to run a smooth supply chain operation. The QMIA includes supervisory visits to measure key performance indicators and discussion sessions for experience-sharing and skill-building. The central level conducts both components, supporting regional warehouses that in turn assist SDPs through supervisory visits and discussion sessions.Results:Since 2017, the QMIA has been conducted twice a year in 596 SDPs and 30 regional warehouses and has trained 1,296 supply chain staff members. The intervention has contributed to major improvements in several key supply chain outcomes (2017 versus 2019): increased utilization of the e-LMIS (55\% to 96\%), higher inventory data accuracy (25\% to 85\%), and reduced stock-outs (10\% to 1\%).Conclusions:The QMIA has proven to be a successful training and capacity-building platform for supply chain management in Rwanda, enhancing system utilization and availability of accurate data to guide decision-making. Notably, the approach fosters a positive behavioral change to build local solutions and improves communication.}, URL = {https://www.ghspjournal.org/content/11/1/e2200295}, eprint = {https://www.ghspjournal.org/content/11/1/e2200295.full.pdf}, journal = {Global Health: Science and Practice} }