DHL Supply Chain has launched a service logistics solution for the medical-device sector which consolidates field inventory into single locations and uses quality-management systems to provide better control and traceability of these valuable products.

According to DHL, the solution responds to industry challenges such as greater demand from an ageing and more active population, as well as increasing cost pressure from healthcare providers. These factors have led to an ever-increasing need to better manage inventory, both in the field and in hospitals. The new final-mile solution focuses on the need for companies in the medical-device sector to address the compromises between cost and availability and drive efficiencies in field inventory.

“This solution draws on our life sciences expertise in managing critical lifesaving products and our global capability to organize mission critical deliveries into complex environments,” said Tim Slater, CEO of life sciences at DHL Supply Chain. “It is replicable, provides high visibility of inventory both inside and outside the hospital and is fully compliant globally with the rigorous standards required. It facilitates a reduction of capital commitment for inventory through just-in-time availability to hospitals, removing the requirement for just-in-case storage of medical devices.”

The solution will free up sales reps from actively managing, checking and locating stock to allow more time to interact with customers. It uses established global supply chain infrastructure that is certified to the required standards for each market. The solution has already been deployed for a major global provider of medical devices in multiple countries.

“We have built our expertise through successfully deploying a similar solution in the technology sector,” said John Farrell, president of service logistics solutions at DHL Supply Chain. “It is ideally suited to the medical-device market, where critical products are required just-in-time. We provide full stock visibility and control through pooling of consignment stocks outside of hospitals, while providing mission-critical availability of inventory on a same-day basis.”

The new solution also provides a platform for standardized service and quality systems while at the same time enabling product returns, customer segmentation activities such as kitting and value-added services to meet local market and customer needs, according to DHL.