Mr. Kaconco James successfully defended his PhD thesis at a public defense session held at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT).
His thesis was titled; Master Production Scheduling, Total Quality Management and Blood Production Towards Blood Transfusion Sustainability in Uganda.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the relationship between master production scheduling, total quality management, blood production, and transfusion sustainability in Ugandan blood banks. It aimed to address the challenges of blood safety and shortages in healthcare, leading to canceled or postponed transfusions and patient fatalities.
The study used was correlational and cross-sectional in nature with a pragmatic paradigm and a mixed-method strategy. It surveyed seven regional and seven university teaching hospital blood banks, using random and purposive sampling. Data came from self-administered questionnaires and interviews with key informants. Data analysis used SPSS20 and AMOS23 to determine relationships among variables. Qualitative data was analyzed using Nvivo software. Pilot tests ensured questionnaire and interview guide validity and reliability.
Findings showed a significant model for the relationship between master production scheduling and blood transfusion sustainability. Demand and supply significantly related to transfusion sustainability, while perishability had a positive but not significant relationship. Surprisingly, total quality management did not mediate the master production scheduling-blood transfusion sustainability link; instead, blood production fully mediated it. When considering both total quality management and blood production as serial mediators, both played a partial mediating role. Qualitative findings aligned with these results, highlighting various strategies used by Ugandan blood banks to enhance sustainability.
This study has managerial implications, emphasizing the importance of factors such as blood demand, staff involvement, continuous improvement, customer-centric approaches, and efficient bloodstock management in enhancing transfusion sustainability. Recommendations for policymakers include establishing a fund to support blood banks for knowledge dissemination and capacity development. They should also enhance annual evaluation, recognition, and awards for blood donors, individuals, and partners dedicated to transfusion sustainability. Establishing a dedicated unit under UBTS for compliance monitoring is recommended. Blood bank managers should invest in staff training, seek expert consultation on transfusion sustainability, and recognize and reward employees and teams demonstrating a strong commitment to transfusion sustainability.
The College of engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) embarked on the process for reviewing the ways of teaching and learning, research and innovation in order to produce graduates that are well shaped to meet the needs of the society.A two-day strategy workshop was convened from 14th to 15th April 2025 at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe, bringing together academia and others stakeholders, under the Theme; ‘Advancing Education, Research, Innovation for a transformative Future in Engineering, Design, Art and technology’.
The engagement was aimed at advancing the institution’s leadership, management practices, and its core academic functions and discussed strategies for driving excellence and preparing graduates for the job market. It centered on three main objectives: promoting a better understanding of the roles of Academic Leaders and Administrative Heads in carrying out the University’s core functions, enhancing college management through effective customer care, communication, and documentation practices, and advancing teaching, research, and innovation to produce job-ready graduates.
Realizing a gap between the Academia and Industry, the School of Engineering hosted a workshop on 16th, April 2025 aimed at strengthening the collaboration for Skills Development and Innovation to ensure that the engineering graduates have the relevant skills needed for the labor market and can contribute effectively to national development.
The workshop was officially opened by the Dean, School of Engineering Dr. Dorothy Okello who emphasized improving the relationship between the academia and industry by having continuous engagement and regularly inviting industry representatives to contribute to the curriculum. She proposed this engagement to be happening every two to three years, with a focus on regular discussions to enhance opportunities and align more closely with market needs aiming on collaboratively increasing productivity and improve the ultimate development for the involved parties.