Don’t Let Supply Chain Disruption Sink You: Optimize Now to Sell More!

Facing Supply Chain Disruption: How Medical Device Companies Can Regain Control

By now, you’re probably all too familiar with the ongoing supply chain disruption caused by global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the resulting economic instability. These events have exposed vulnerabilities across industries, but for medical device manufacturers and distributors, the stakes are particularly high.

When the supply chain falters—or when the flow of goods slows down—managing existing inventory becomes critical. To continue supporting surgical demand and preventing stockouts, companies must optimize both their warehouse stock and their field inventory. In today’s environment, doing so requires rethinking two key areas: transportation strategy and field inventory utilization.

Supply Chain Disruption and Transportation Strategy

In the past, many companies relied on overstocking the field to ensure coverage. Sales reps were sent with large volumes of inventory to cover surgical cases in every territory, while also accounting for long transit times and clogged sterile processing departments. On paper, this strategy looked like a safeguard against supply chain disruption.

In practice, however, it often led to inefficiency. Inventory piled up in certain locations where it wasn’t being used, while demand in other areas went unmet. Manufacturers, unable to track utilization effectively, compensated by producing more stock—fueling a cycle of overproduction, higher carrying costs, and waste.

Overnight shipping has often been used as a stopgap to fill these gaps. While it ensures urgent deliveries for surgical cases, it comes at a steep cost. Overnight freight can be three to five times more expensive than ground shipping, and reliance on it erodes profitability quickly. Worse still, it introduces risk: shipments don’t always arrive on time or may not be properly processed for surgery.

What if, instead, you had visibility into surgical schedules in real time? That insight would allow you to ship inventory strategically—early enough to ensure it arrives on time without resorting to costly, rushed freight. Reducing dependence on overnight shipping is one of the most effective ways to limit the financial strain of supply chain disruption.

Optimizing Field Inventory Utilization

Another profitability drain in the medical device industry is inefficient use of field inventory. Consigning products to distributors and hospitals can create availability, but it often results in inventory getting “stuck” in locations where it isn’t needed. Without accurate visibility, stagnant stock sits in the field while production ramps up to cover shortages elsewhere.

This imbalance creates a cycle: manufacturers produce more to meet immediate demand, while underutilized inventory sits idle in another territory. The longer this persists, the more waste builds in the system. In times of supply chain disruption, when every unit of inventory is precious, this problem becomes even more acute.

Visibility into where your inventory is—and how it’s being used—is the only way to break this cycle. Companies that can identify underutilized products and redeploy them where demand is higher are better positioned to weather disruptions, avoid shortages, and prevent unnecessary overproduction.

The Role of Data in Managing Supply Chain Disruption

At its core, the solution to these challenges is knowledge. The companies that can adapt to supply chain disruption are the ones that harness their data effectively.

When you know where your inventory is, how it’s being used, and where it’s most needed, you can:

• Optimize transportation to reduce shipping costs and eliminate reliance on emergency freight.
• Shift resources dynamically to meet real-time sales opportunities.
• Prevent inventory exposure by ensuring products don’t sit idle in low-demand areas.
• Support surgical teams with confidence, even when global supply lines are unstable.

Unfortunately, traditional methods of case and inventory management—spreadsheets, siloed software, and manual reporting—don’t provide this level of visibility. Many manufacturers remain ill-equipped to handle shocks to the supply chain, let alone drawn-out periods of disruption.

Taking Control of the Inventory Process

Supply chain disruption isn’t going away. The medical device industry must prepare for more frequent and unpredictable challenges, whether caused by geopolitical events, pandemics, or economic volatility. The companies that succeed will be those that move away from reactive approaches—like overnight shipping and overproduction—and embrace proactive strategies built on visibility and efficiency.

How ConnectSx Helps Manage Supply Chain Disruption

ConnectSx equips medical device companies with the tools to regain control in the face of supply chain disruption. By providing real-time visibility into inventory across warehouses and the field, ConnectSx eliminates blind spots that lead to overstocking, waste, and rushed shipments. With integrated case scheduling, companies know exactly when and where inventory is needed, allowing them to align shipping strategies and minimize costs.

ConnectSx also empowers teams to redeploy underutilized field inventory, reducing the need for excess production while ensuring availability where it matters most. By combining data-driven insights with seamless workflows, ConnectSx helps companies strengthen their operations, reduce costs, and maintain resilience no matter what disruptions come next.

If your company is struggling to manage inventory and costs during supply chain disruption, now is the time to take action. Reach out today to learn how ConnectSx can help turn uncertainty into a competitive advantage.

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