Exclusive insights from the 2025 Hospital Logistics Conference in Graz: Underground logistics tunnels, AI integration, and innovative supply chain management solutions.

When Logistics Goes Underground: Innovation at LKH University Hospital Graz

"Logistics and supply chain management must be anchored as an indispensable component of leadership understanding." This vision from Dipl. KHBW Michael Kazianschütz MBA MSc, Head of Economics/Logistics and Head of Supply Chain Management Staff Unit at Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m.b.H., LKH University Hospital Graz, was the central theme of the "Hospital Logistics" conference on November 19-20, 2025, in Graz.

When I attended the conference moderated by Elke Wiedmaier (Managing Partner, Management Forum Starnberg GmbH), I expected an insightful look into the future of hospital logistics. The diversity of solution approaches presented was remarkable.

Underground Innovation: From Surface Transport to Logistics Tunnel

Michael Kazianschütz, rightfully winner of the Innovation Award for Hospital Logistics, guided us through a remarkable transformation. LKH University Hospital Graz has converted its entire supply system from above-ground to underground – with a construction, logistics, and media tunnel that kicked off in 2024.

The comprehensive logistics concept encompasses several sub-concepts: emergency concept, electronic requisition, supply assistance, goods dispatch and return, and goods receipt. Kazianschütz consistently employs lean management with flowing processes, standardized work methods, quality and continuous improvement, elimination of waste, and leveling for balanced workload.

Through simulation, he gains important insights for innovative solutions and tests them with data glasses. He must also consider external factors like climate change – specifically heavy rainfall events that can affect logistics processes.

The tour of the supply tunnels in the hospital with Mr. Kazianschütz was a highlight. Even more spectacular: the visit to the helicopter landing pad with an impressive view over the beautiful city of Graz. Notable figure on the side: the hospital records 1,600 helicopter landings per year.

From Cleaning Robots to Window-Cleaning Robots: Automation in Detail

Kazianschütz described countless logistics processes in this enormous hospital. The range is remarkable: from cleaning staff to cleaning robots, from industrial climbers for window cleaning to window-cleaning robots. It became clear what enormous performance happens underground and seemingly in the background.

A detail I particularly liked: The clothing in the hospital was depersonalized – just like in the hospital in Burgenland. Graz uses beautiful bright colors from lilac to magenta to light blue, which doctors and cleaning staff use equally in fashion.

Supply Assistance with Kanban: Efficiency Through Visualization

I particularly enjoyed the presentation by DGKP/QB/RM Ulrich Klingenberg, Operational Manager of Supply Assistance at Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m.b.H., LKH University Hospital Graz, about supply assistance with Kanban. His presentation of establishment and implementation, service spectrum, and key performance indicators impressively showed how modern materials management works.

AI in Hospitals: Focus on Security and Efficiency

René Herzer, founder and CEO of basebox GmbH, was able to deliver the presentation "AI in Hospitals." He showed a secure and fast path to productive AI use in hospitals – from AI visions to measurable clinical results.

Herzer's strategic approach is based on four pillars of digitalization strategy with flexible hosting strategies and practical use cases. Particularly relevant for hospitals: AI integration in four steps with data protection from the beginning, well-thought-out hosting solutions, meaningful use cases, and gradual data integration.

We were approached by senior specialists with their concrete use cases: for example, searching SOPs, medication queries, and other practical applications that can facilitate daily clinical work.

Precise Location and Intelligent Tracking

Markus Feuerbacher, Department Head and Deputy Business Unit Manager (acting) in the E-Operations and Logistics Business Unit at University Hospital Tübingen, demonstrated the possibilities of precise real-time location. His RTLS solution (Real Time Location System) shows quantifiable benefits through improved information flows and interoperability of various systems.

Zeynep Timur, Head of Consulting Operations Organization MT/AEMP/MedIT at Sana Klinik Service GmbH, added important insights on process tracking: "Live tracking alone doesn't solve data problems!" Nevertheless: A simple but impressive example was the hand disinfection tracking she presented.

Her take-home messages were particularly valuable:

• The establishment of IoT infrastructures must be strategically developed in hospitals under holistic aspects

• The introduction of individual use cases without an overall strategy offers little chance of sustainable implementation and amortization

• The acceptance of applications in daily clinical practice depends on the usability of the application and its integration possibilities with existing applications

• Development partnerships with solution providers are an important building block

• It is not primarily an IT project and must be managed interdisciplinarily by the respective process owners

RFID Optimizes Textile Logistics

An interesting insight came from Kristina Gabriel, Deputy Head of Supply Chain Management Staff Unit at Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m.b.H., LKH University Hospital Graz, and Dipl. KHBW Gabriele Maierhofer, Operations Director at Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m.b.H., Institutes and Operations.

They showed how RFID-supported clothing systems make work uniforms "speak." The implementation follows lean principles with simulation and offers enormous optimization potential. Mag. Marc Seper MSc, Commercial Director of Gesundheit Burgenland – Burgenländische Krankenanstalten GmbH, Klinik Oberwart, added experiences on efficient and sustainable staff laundry supply.

Sustainability and Compliance in Focus

Mag. Stefan Honeder, Attorney at CMS Reich Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH, illuminated the legal aspects: "From Patchwork to Obligation – Sustainability Compliance in Light of CS-DDD and the Omnibus Regulation." The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive places new requirements on hospitals and their supply chains.

Sarah Gugerell, Logistics in the Board Resource Infrastructure Management, Facility Services of Wiener Gesundheitsverbund, shared practical experiences from implementing a logistics center for commercial goods. Particularly valuable were her learnings from process digitalization and warehouse management system implementation.

Resilience and Supply Security: ASCII Makes Supply Chains Visible

Prof. (FH) Dr. Veit Kohnhauser, Program Director at Logistikum, FH Oberösterreich, rounded out the program with important insights on "Supply Security and Resilience – Requirements for Modern Supply Chains." His presentation was particularly interesting to me personally because it clearly showed how global crises and geopolitical tensions influence our supply networks.

A remarkable statistic: Only 6% of companies know their entire supply chain; less than 1% of worldwide supply relationships have ever been observed. This is where ASCII (Supply Chain Intelligence Institute Austria) comes in, providing reliable data foundations for the first time to make supply chains visible, controllable, and future-ready.

Why is this important? So that one realizes they are entering into dependency. As an example, he mentioned antibiotic production – if antibiotics are no longer or inadequately produced in Europe, dangerous supply gaps could emerge.

Supply chain disruptions are increasing: From the dot-com bubble in 2000 through 9/11 in 2001, iPhone launch in 2007, Fukushima earthquake and tsunami in 2011, trade war in 2018, Brexit in 2016, COVID-19 in 2020, to the Baltimore bridge collapse in 2023, he cited several examples.

He emphasized that supply chains are gaining geopolitical significance today.

While countries previously worked globally as partners and conducted cooperative trade, today's protectionist approach (Trump) is a challenge for the entire world.

He quoted Max Frisch: "A crisis is a productive state. One must only remove its aftertaste of catastrophe." We take that with us.

Also worth mentioning is the VNL supply chain monitor from Prewave, which brings additional transparency to global supply structures.

Learnings from Motorsport: KTM Experiences for Hospitals

A special perspective was offered by Chiara Raith, Independent Supply Chain & Operations Consultant, with her presentation "Navigating Supply Chains in High-Performance Environments." She transferred insights from her time at KTM to hospital logistics – an unusual but very instructive approach.

Her most important tips: "Stop finger-pointing immediately – blame gets you nowhere. Be agile. Flexible. Celebrate successes." These principles from high-performance sports can certainly be applied to agility under pressure and functional leadership in hospitals.

Graz by Night: A Personal Conclusion

In the evening, we climbed up the Schlossberg to catch a view over beautiful Graz. A peaceful conclusion to an intensive conference day with a spectacular view over the cultural capital.

My Key Takeaways

After two intensive conference days, five central insights crystallized for me:

First: Always think logistics first and include it. Logistics is a leadership matter.

Second: AI must be thought of securely from the beginning. Data protection and gradual integration are crucial for success.

Third: IoT infrastructures need holistic strategies. Individual use cases without an overall concept don't lead to success.

Fourth: RFID and tracking technologies significantly optimize materials management. From textile logistics to equipment tracking, new possibilities emerge.

Fifth: Supply chain resilience becomes vital. ASCII and similar initiatives create the necessary transparency for secure supply.

Outlook: The Future of Hospital Logistics

The "Hospital Logistics" conference 2025 showed that the industry is in continuous transformation. The combination of technological innovation, sustainable approaches, and strategic thinking opens new dimensions of efficiency.

Are you ready for logistical transformation in your hospital? The presented solutions and approaches offer concrete starting points for modernizing your logistics processes. As an AI provider, we help with the secure and systematic integration of AI for all your use cases.