United Parcel Service (UPS) has announced it is using a new field inventory technology that the logistics giant says will help “ensure that surgical kits and implantable medical devices arrive where they need to be, when they need to be there”.

The solution has been developed with WebOps, a medical device and analytics technology provider, and Baxter Planning, an inventory planning and optimisation solutions provider. The UPS system helps medical device manufacturers optimise their supply chain amid stricter standards for patient safety.

The WebOps application enables precise tracking of surgery schedules, physician preferences, inventory availability and movement of surgical kits and implants. Surgeons and hospitals, device and instrument manufacturers, and distributors can also communicate about implant usage, product needs and consumption.

“Medical device manufacturers require specialized services and solutions to solve problems that help to improve patient care,” said David O’Leary, vice president of operations, UPS global logistics and distribution. “We are now leveraging these core strengths to bring solutions to the implantable medical device industry that offer better visibility and quality, reduced inventory and lower supply chain costs.”