Vivarium Operational Excellence Network
VOE-Network Mission:
“The Vivarium Operational Excellence Network’s mission is to promote and exchange innovative methods and knowledge for managing animal programs around the world”
“The Vivarium Operational Excellence Network’s mission is to promote and exchange innovative methods and knowledge for managing animal programs around the world”
Personal Statement on Racism and Brutality
from VOEN Founding Member and First President, Dr. Donna Matthews Jarrell, to the BOD and member organizations. (6.11.2020)
|
"I remember the evening that the concept of a network of lean adaptors was born at an ACLAM Forum in Idaho. The diversity of those three individuals, Steve Niemi, Sai Tummala and myself is worth noting because everything about our brainstorming was about the content of our ideas (character) and not the color of our skin. Too many times, I’ve participated in conversations where the opposite of that was true. As an African-American woman who understands the personal toll of racism and brutality, I wanted to acknowledge that the origin of the VOEN was grounded in equality and inclusion from the very start.
So, what can be done about these issues? As many have already said around the nation, it’s going to require work to improve. As an Organizational Leader, I have made a personally committed to performing a “deep dive” into my department’s culture and the plight of our staff who are People of Color, especially those who are African-American. I charge all VOEN members to do something similar. Remember to include the right stakeholders in your problem-solving and then implement improvements that are measurable and meet your anticipated goal. Resolving the inequities associated with these conditions will require continuous attention and adjustment. The strength of the VOEN has always been based on the participation of its member organizations. I’m asking that all members continue to emphasize that lean’s philosophy at its core is based on inclusion and that racism and exclusion should not be tolerated in any form. It’s time for a change," Donna Matthews Jarrell |
|
The VOE Network's Summer Series
|
Big July Event:
COVID Research has brought new animal models and operational challenges to our facilities. This session addressed the various operational challenges brought with the introduction of new species. Thank you to our special guest Dr. Kath Hardcastle from Montana State University (Previously from Boston University) Zoom Link TBD Additional Important Resources for working with COVID models:
Interim laboratory biosafety guidelines for handling and processing specimens associated with covid-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/lab/lab-biosafety-guidelines.html The search for a covid animal model: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6494/942 ACE2 mouse strain info sheet: https://www.jax.org/strain/034860 Animal models of mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 pathology (pre-publication): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7283621/pdf/BPH-9999-na.pdf A review of genetic methods and models for analysis of coronavirus-induced severe pneumonitis (2015 article): https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC4811657&blobtype=pdf Animal models for emerging coronavirus: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7269044/ Mice, hamsters, ferrets, monkeys. Which lab animals can help defeat the new coronavirus? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/mice-hamsters-ferrets-monkeys-which-lab-animals-can-help-defeat-new-coronavirus BMBL: https://www.cdc.gov/labs/pdf/CDC-BiosafetyMicrobiologicalBiomedicalLaboratories-2009-P.PDF |
VOE-N Coffee Chats!
Few industries can understand what it's like to selflessly devote our lives to animal healthcare 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Our Technicians and Veterinarians are the Doctors and Nurses on the front lines putting ourselves in harms way to serve the animals under our care.
Perhaps more than any time in modern history, the accelerated successes of biomedical and clinical research are required to beat this historic COVID-19 virus.
This crisis demands "wartime planning" to maintain the critical care of our patients and loved ones. In less than 3 weeks, our programs have empowered our staff to problem-solve and deploy these massive changes.
During the month of April, the biomedical research community from around the world gathered to share and discuss concerns and best practices for immediate adjustments to the rapidly changing daily environment. Gathering data over this time allowed us to use PDCA, reflect and to adjust to build a better future. The results of those surveys are below.
Since 2014, our slogan has been "We're all in this together". Now the rest of the world has adopted our sense of community and support that has been the strength of the VOE-Network.
Perhaps more than any time in modern history, the accelerated successes of biomedical and clinical research are required to beat this historic COVID-19 virus.
This crisis demands "wartime planning" to maintain the critical care of our patients and loved ones. In less than 3 weeks, our programs have empowered our staff to problem-solve and deploy these massive changes.
During the month of April, the biomedical research community from around the world gathered to share and discuss concerns and best practices for immediate adjustments to the rapidly changing daily environment. Gathering data over this time allowed us to use PDCA, reflect and to adjust to build a better future. The results of those surveys are below.
Since 2014, our slogan has been "We're all in this together". Now the rest of the world has adopted our sense of community and support that has been the strength of the VOE-Network.
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
Have You Checked out the VOE Network's Belt program Yet?
|
Lean Belt Certification Training is a great way to get your staff, new and not-so-new, on the same page and to mobilize them to identify waste in operations and processes. When finished with belt certification classes, the successful candidate will be able to participate in lean activities as a stakeholder and customer.
The VOE Network is proud to offer online self paced lean certifications. Over 100 members have already taken advantage of this great opportunity to learn and grow. Want to hear more? Go to the Belt Certification tab for FAQs or use the link below, see past alumni, and learn how to register! www.voenetwork.com/about-belt-certification.html |
How Lean Practices can Help in a Crisis
|
Practice makes perfect...
Author Michael Balle gives us a an idea of the how preparing for the small daily crises can help with dealing with the large-scale crises like COVID-19. Michael reminds us that "Faced with any problem, our instinct is to correct, rework, or reschedule. What lean asks us to do is look at the smallest incidents and ask “why?” so that we can create recognizable repeated experiences and learn to do the task with less risk of a glitch, a breakage or an outage. In my wine-glass analogy (in the article), this would be realizing the wine glasses are stored in a really awkward place and tricky to grasp. Read more here: www.industryweek.com/operations/continuous-improvement/article/21126118/how-lean-can-help-in-a-crisis |
|
|
|
|
LEAN Isn't Just for MANUFACTURING...
"Continuous Improvement helps people help animals..."
Tools and concepts can be intimidating, and videos can only show so much. We want to help you get started on the right foot, and be as successful as possible!
Contact us and we will do our absolute best to assist in any way possible, and put you in direct contact with an experienced Continuous Improvement practitioner.
Sends us an email at: info@voenetwork.com
Tools and concepts can be intimidating, and videos can only show so much. We want to help you get started on the right foot, and be as successful as possible!
Contact us and we will do our absolute best to assist in any way possible, and put you in direct contact with an experienced Continuous Improvement practitioner.
Sends us an email at: info@voenetwork.com
Collaborators
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VOE-Network Donates to Animal Welfare Foundations
The VOE-Network Board of Directors endorsed the donation of the prize money awarded for "Best Presentation" at LAMA to be shared by two important foundations: "Homes for Animal Heroes" and "Herd Heroes" in recognition of the very important work they do.
Both organizations were featured at LAMA and have developed successful programs that build awareness for education, public awareness and animal placement.
The VOE-Network has also donated to the Denver Animal Shelter for their exemplary work in applying Continuous Improvement techniques to streamline their operations.
We salute these organizations as first-class ambassadors and guardians for animals and for the incredible work we all do to promote and ensure animal welfare.
Both organizations were featured at LAMA and have developed successful programs that build awareness for education, public awareness and animal placement.
The VOE-Network has also donated to the Denver Animal Shelter for their exemplary work in applying Continuous Improvement techniques to streamline their operations.
We salute these organizations as first-class ambassadors and guardians for animals and for the incredible work we all do to promote and ensure animal welfare.
|
|