Lu Zijian of Yinyi Medical: A Four-Step Approach to Optimizing Intelligent Hospital Material Management Solutions

Hospitals handle a substantial volume of materials requiring internal transportation on a daily basis, including pharmaceuticals, consumables, medical instruments, X-ray films, documents, laboratory specimens, soiled linens and garments, catering services, as well as medical and domestic waste. These items vary in size and weight, with differing levels of urgency. In traditional hospitals, it is common to see carts loaded with bed sheets and patient gowns being wheeled into elevators, or nurses rushing about carrying small baskets. However, such scenes will no longer be present in modern smart hospitals.

By constructing hospital automated logistics systems and logistics information systems, a comprehensive internal logistics management framework aligned with modern hospital standards can be established, forming a safe, efficient, and standardized hospital logistics management system. This approach aims to enhance transportation efficiency, reduce labor costs, and achieve refined management. Consequently, smart logistics systems have gained widespread adoption in the construction of large-scale hospitals in recent years.

In the development of hospital automated logistics, Silver Wing Medical has become a leading provider of comprehensive solutions for China’s intelligent medical supply chain system, relying on high-quality and complete product solutions.

Founded in 2006, Silver Wing Intelligent Solutions Medical Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. focuses on material management and its automation, strategically positioning itself as a provider of intelligent medical supply chain solutions and delivering high-quality, comprehensive logistics automation solutions. During the production of its special report on hospital automated logistics systems, VCBeat interviewed Mr. Lv Zijian, General Manager of Silver Wing, to gain detailed insights into the development of automated logistics systems in Chinese hospitals and to conduct an in-depth analysis of how Silver Wing has been deeply cultivating the field of intelligent hospital material management.

Lü Zijian, General Manager of Silver Wing Medical

When Silver Wing first entered the healthcare sector, its primary positioning was to focus on supporting hospitals’ logistical infrastructure. Initially, the company’s product portfolio was relatively narrow, centering on the sales, installation, and maintenance of pneumatic tube systems, primarily addressing the urgent transport of medical supplies within hospitals. At that time, pneumatic tube systems had already demonstrated high efficiency in the clinical transport of materials. The founding team of Silver Wing believed that systems providing greater value to hospitals would undoubtedly hold larger market potential in the future; therefore, the company continued to deepen its expertise in hospital internal automated logistics. Currently, Silver Wing’s logistics system strategy primarily relies on distributing imported brands, supplemented by in-house research and development.

Since the late 1980s, hospitals in China have been introducing automated logistics systems, forming four major medical logistics systems: pneumatic tube systems, track-based cart systems, medium-sized box-type logistics systems, and AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) robots. Lu Zijian described it to reporters as follows: “The automated logistics systems in hospitals come in various forms, playing a role similar to roads, railways, aviation, and maritime transport within a transportation network. Different logistics systems have distinct characteristics, and when constructing these systems, hospitals need to consider different modes of transportation such as cars, trains, planes, and ships to address varying situations.”

For instance, pneumatic tube systems offer rapid transmission but have a low payload capacity, making them suitable for transporting urgent items such as laboratory specimens, blood samples, and medications. In contrast, medium-sized box carrier systems provide a higher load capacity but operate at slower speeds with limited transport ranges, rendering them appropriate for delivering bulky and heavy medical devices, liquids, as well as logistical and office supplies. When planning hospital logistics infrastructure, decision-makers must evaluate their specific needs to determine whether to prioritize building a “railway” (box carrier system) or an “airport” (pneumatic tube system), or to adopt a combined approach such as “highway + railway” or “highway + airport.”

Hospital automated logistics is an emerging concept, but the current market environment is far more favorable than it was over a decade ago. New hospitals now incorporate automated logistics systems into their initial construction planning. Automated logistics solutions come in various forms with flexible configuration options. Silver Wing Intelligent Solutions Medical Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. primarily promotes a combined solution of pneumatic tube systems and AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) logistics robots.

Pneumatic tube systems offer low installation costs, long transmission distances, and high speeds, addressing approximately 20% of urgent item transport needs in hospitals. They have become an essential component in the construction of hospital logistics systems. Rail-guided vehicles (RGVs) and medium-sized box-type logistics systems have also gained prominence in recent hospital projects; however, their significant space requirements limit their consideration primarily to new hospital constructions. In contrast, Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) robots facilitate easy vertical transportation between floors and can utilize existing skybridges for inter-building transit. Due to their superior load-bearing capacity and strong adaptability, AGV robots hold substantial potential for future applications.

The construction of hospital logistics systems is highly complex, requiring consideration not only of the system’s characteristics but also of the specific attributes of the hospital. When planning for hospitals, Silver Wing Intelligent Solutions Medical Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. designs and selects appropriate solutions based on actual needs such as hospital layout, positioning, and disciplinary specialties. The automated logistics systems designed and installed by Silver Wing have been deployed in more than 60 hospitals, including well-known large-scale institutions such as Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. These hospitals handle high outpatient volumes, maintain advanced management standards, and impose stringent requirements on product safety and efficiency, representing the highest operational benchmarks for hospitals in China. Successfully meeting the logistics demands of these leading institutions has significantly facilitated Silver Wing’s promotion and adoption among other Tier III and Tier II hospitals.

As a pioneer in automated logistics, pneumatic tube systems have been widely adopted in over a thousand hospitals. However, their implementation has encountered numerous challenges in many healthcare facilities. What accounts for this situation? Lv Zijian attributes these issues primarily to four factors.

First, the challenge arises on the product side. Most hospitals in Europe have only one to two hundred beds, and many imported brands primarily design their products for such small-scale facilities. Applying these same solutions to Chinese hospitals with thousands of beds, without conducting responsible adaptive research and design tailored to the Chinese context, inevitably leads to problems. The more delivery points there are, the more complex the transfer units become; poor adaptability results in frequent malfunctions. This is akin to building a high-speed railway: old tracks and stations cannot accommodate high-speed trains, necessitating the construction of new tracks and stations designed specifically for high-speed rail. However, hospitals are unable to assess the merits of products and solutions during the decision-making process, only discovering their true performance after implementation. Consequently, this has led to high failure and error rates in hospital logistics systems.

Lü Zijian introduced that, in the field of pneumatic tube systems, there are few high-quality products on the market capable of meeting the needs of large-scale hospitals in China. In China, hospitals with over a thousand beds are commonplace, thus imposing exceptionally high requirements on such products. After careful selection and evaluation by Silver Wing Intelligent Solutions Medical Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Swissegr’s pneumatic tube system emerged as the preferred choice. Its transmission efficiency, quality, and design philosophy best align with the requirements of Chinese hospitals, and its sophisticated multi-directional switching design is well-suited to handle the high demands of busy, large-scale hospitals in China.

The second issue arose during the design phase. The structure and layout of hospital buildings significantly influence the design, and local teams are better positioned to understand the specific circumstances and needs of the hospital. Additionally, it is essential to reserve space for the hospital’s future development. Prior to initiating the design, Silver Wing Intelligent Solutions Medical Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. conducts a comprehensive collection of all baseline information and data related to the hospital’s logistics and distribution systems. This process requires continuous on-site surveys by staff members to develop tailored plans based on the hospital’s specific conditions, thereby formulating the most targeted solutions.

When Silver Wing Intelligent Solutions Medical Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. undertook the construction of the pneumatic tube system for the new campus of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the hospital’s design specification called for a capacity of 8,000 outpatient visits per day, whereas Silver Wing proposed a design capacity of 13,000. Shortly after the hospital began operations, daily outpatient volume quickly reached 10,000 and has now approached 15,000. Thanks to Silver Wing’s comprehensive design and installation, the system continues to operate stably.

Third, the maintenance and upkeep of automated logistics systems are also critical, representing the most important aspect. After hospitals adopt automated logistics systems, they will inevitably reduce or even eliminate dedicated transport staff. Any malfunction in any part of the system will significantly disrupt normal clinical diagnosis and treatment services, thereby impeding the execution of many operational tasks.

The Silver Wing Medical team comprises over 80 employees, with more than 30 dedicated to installation and maintenance. Much like automobiles, automated logistics systems require regular maintenance; otherwise, the likelihood of failures increases significantly. Silver Wing Medical persuades hospitals to allow the company to remain responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of their automated logistics systems alongside initial construction. Through standardized, periodic maintenance, the company aims to maximize the system's service life. Having deployed systems in hospitals across numerous cities throughout China, Silver Wing Medical ensures operational reliability by stationing dedicated after-sales personnel locally to perform maintenance tasks and keep essential spare parts in stock.

Huang Ruchun, Director of the General Services Department at Jiangsu Province People's Hospital, stated: “Silver Wing has a profound understanding of hospital needs. Their forward-thinking approach ensures that their solutions not only meet current demands but also provide long-term lean logistics management. Furthermore, their after-sales service is exceptionally thorough. Silver Wing provides hospital administrators with monthly usage analysis reports highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement, while resolving issues in real time.”

Finally, it is essential to provide comprehensive training for all frontline hospital users. Personnel operating the logistics system must adhere to established protocols, including proper sealing techniques, correct operational procedures, and appropriate troubleshooting methods. Proper usage not only extends the system’s lifespan but also prevents issues such as specimen spillage caused by improper handling. Through its robust training programs, Silver Wing Intelligent Solutions Medical Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. enables users to fully leverage the value of automated logistics systems.

With the advancement of technology and the advent of the era of intelligence and automation, automated logistics equipment is undergoing comprehensive upgrades, and hospitals’ demands in the logistics sector are gradually increasing. The product portfolio offered by Silver Wing Medical is also being refined, expanding from automated transportation to cover the full spectrum of in-hospital automated warehousing, sorting, and distribution. Starting from the receipt of supplies, it creates a closed-loop logistics system encompassing inbound processing, internal circulation, and recycling. Furthermore, Silver Wing Medical addresses both hardware and software aspects to enable refined logistical supply support for hospitals.

Currently, Silver Wing Medical has established five major solutions: hospital-dedicated intelligent warehousing systems, hospital-dedicated steel-pipe pneumatic transmission systems, hospital-dedicated high-load automated guided vehicles (AGVs), fully automated intravenous admixture robots, and intelligent warehousing system management platforms. Through its innovative medical intelligent supply chain solutions, it delivers an ideal product experience for lean hospital management.

Silver Wing Medical has secured two rounds of financing, including a RMB 30 million Series A round invested by the China-Belgium Fund and a RMB 70 million Series B round invested by Qianji Capital. Moving forward, Silver Wing Medical will initiate a new round of financing and, by introducing strategic partners, plan its development around three strategic business groups: pharmacy automation, unmanned warehouse solutions for operating rooms, and intelligent logistics solutions for backend automation.