Introduction

YMS Medicals is a company that specialises in providing a comprehensive range of equipment, furniture, instruments, and Point of Care diagnostics. As agents for Philips Medical Equipment, they offer a full suite of foetal and patient monitoring devices, ECG machines, emergency resuscitation devices, and pharmaceutical wholesale services. YMS Medicals operates as a pharmaceutical wholesale and distributes first aid kits and EMS products.

Challenges

Despite their expertise, YMS Medicals faced significant operational challenges that threatened to hinder their growth and efficiency. As highlighted by the beneficiary, frequent power outages due to load shedding disrupted their operations, rendering them non-operational during these periods and causing substantial downtime. Furthermore, the company’s reliance on manual stock counting processes proved to be time-consuming and error prone. With every stock take, employees had to physically count and record each item on hard copy books, a labour-intensive task that left ample room for human error and inaccuracies.

The Solution

Recognising the urgent need to address these challenges, YMS Medicals sought assistance from the Damen Shipyards Cape Town Supplier Development Programme, implemented by Zevoli Growth Partners. Through this partnership, the programme recommended two strategic interventions tailored to YMS Medicals’ specific needs:

• Solar MD Lithium-Ion Battery to mitigate the impact of load shedding on YMS Medicals’ operations, ensuring uninterrupted service and minimising downtime.
• A barcoding scanner to streamline stock management processes, reduce manual labour, and minimise human errors associated with manual stock counting and capturing.

Results and Impact

The interventions recommended by Zevoli Growth Partners over a 6-month period have had a significant positive impact on YMS Medicals’ operations. With the acquisition of the battery, the company now operates with minimal interruptions during power outages, resolving the issue of non-operational periods caused by load shedding.

The acquisition of a barcoding scanner has not only increased efficiency but has also contributed to increased income and decreased expenditure for YMS Medicals. The automated stock management process has saved valuable time previously dedicated to manual stock counting and capturing, reducing the risk of human error, and enhancing accuracy and speed.

Compliance with industry standards is crucial for a company such as YMS Medicals, as they handle life-saving products. The interventions implemented through the Damen Shipyards Cape Town Supplier Development Programme have assisted the company in maintaining compliance within their industry, particularly in ensuring the cold chain for refrigerated items through reliable power supply provided and recommended by the Damen Shipyards Cape Town Supplier Development Programme.

Through these interventions, YMS Medicals has secured new contracts within the programme duration and improved overall company sales.

Conclusion

The quick-win interventions provided by the Damen Shipyards Cape Town Supplier Development Programme have proven instrumental in addressing the challenges faced by YMS Medicals, whose success demonstrates the impact of the interventions on the company’s ability to operate uninterrupted, improve inventory management processes, and secure new business opportunities

By addressing critical pain points and implementing strategic solutions tailored to the company’s specific needs, YMS Medicals has improved significantly in operational efficiency, work turnaround time, and overall business performance. The business’s success serves as a testament to the importance of targeted interventions and support for small and growing businesses.