About

Starting Semester: Spring 2026
Assigned: No
Location: Atlanta

Grady Health System

Client Profile

Grady Health System is one of the largest public health systems in the United States, serving the Atlanta metropolitan area. Its flagship facility, Grady Memorial Hospital, is a Level I trauma center and a critical provider of healthcare services to a diverse and high-volume patient population.

Project Description

The kitchen at Grady Memorial Hospital prepares thousands of meals daily for patients, staff, and visitors, making it a vital operational component of the hospital’s infrastructure. It is possible that the hospital may be experiencing significant levels of food waste due to overproduction, spoilage, inefficient inventory management, and forecasting inaccuracies. This waste not only contributes to environmental concerns but also results in substantial financial losses. The hospital is seeking a student team to analyze the current food preparation and waste management processes and propose data-driven solutions to:



- Quantify the cost and volume of food waste across different stages of the kitchen operation (procurement, storage, preparation, and service).



- Identify root causes of food waste through process mapping, time studies, and data analysis.

- Develop and recommend solutions to reduce food waste, such as improved forecasting models, inventory management systems, portion control strategies, or donation/reuse programs.

- Estimate potential cost savings or revenue recovery from implementing the proposed solutions.



The ultimate goal is to reduce food waste, lower operational costs, and improve the sustainability of the hospital’s food services.

Skills

This project will require a combination of the following skills:
- Process improvement and lean operations
- Data collection and statistical analysis
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Forecasting and inventory optimization
- Stakeholder interviews and change management
- Creative problem-solving and sustainability planning