Case Study Supply Chain Updated March 20, 2025 3 min read By GPSI Team

Supply Chain Assistance — 80,000 Parts Tracked in 6 Months

When Canada needed 10,000 ventilators for COVID-19 patients, a manufacturer designed a new device — and GPSI ran the logistics. Agents in four countries tracked 80,000+ parts and fed the assembly line just in time.

Just-in-time supply chain logistics for COVID-19 ventilator manufacturing

80K+ Parts tracked
in 6 months

Client Ventilator Manufacturer

A manufacturer awarded a Canadian government contract for 10,000 COVID-19 ventilators, integrating a newly designed medical device under intense time pressure.

Industry

Medical Devices

Engagement

Supply Chain Assistance & New Product Integration

Footprint

Canada · USA · Mexico · Poland

Delivery

80,000+ parts · 6 months · JIT

Key Takeaways

A Canadian government contract for 10,000 ventilators demanded a fast, reliable supply chain.
GPSI managed logistics, delivery acceleration, and quality validation for a newly designed device.
Agents were deployed across four countries — Canada, USA, Mexico, and Poland.
The team tracked and delivered 80,000+ parts in 6 months.
Shortages were monitored with line of balance charts and fed just in time to assembly.
Logistics were stabilized and final delivery was consistent and on time.

ScopeWhat was the mission?

During the pandemic outburst, the Canadian government awarded a contract to manufacture 10,000 ventilators to sustain critical needs of hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. The manufacturer innovated and designed a new product and contracted Global Partner Solutions to help manage the logistics of supplies, product delivery acceleration and quality validation related to the assembly of their newly designed medical device.

ActivitiesHow did GPSI run it?

During this project, GPSI deployed agents at the final assembly facility and at multiple sub tier suppliers’ sites located in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Poland. The GPSI team helped track and deliver over 80,000 parts manufactured within 6 months. Just in time delivery to the final assembly line was required, shortages were monitored through line of balance charts and fulfilled to ensure productions lines were fed on time.

A four-country supplier network

GPSI agents embedded at assembly and sub-tier sites worldwide.

Canada United States Mexico Poland

Embed agents

On-site at final assembly and sub-tier suppliers across four countries.

Track every part

Over 80,000 parts tracked and delivered within six months.

Monitor shortages

Line of balance charts flagged risks before they hit the line.

Feed JIT

Just-in-time delivery kept production lines fed on time.

DEFINITION

Line of balance (LOB): a scheduling technique that charts whether each part or stage is keeping pace with the production plan — making shortages visible early so they can be fulfilled before they stall the line.

ResultsWhat was the result?

The logistics were stabilized, and the delivery of the final product was consistent and on time, making this project a success story.

80,000+ parts, four countries, six months — logistics stabilized and the final product delivered consistently and on time, when it mattered most. — Outcome of the GPSI ventilator supply chain program

ImpactWhat was the impact?

80K+

Parts tracked & delivered

10,000

Ventilators in the program

Countries in the network

Months, start to finish

10,000Ventilators · COVID-19

A single GPSI program tracked 80,000+ parts across four countries with just-in-time delivery — helping put critical-care ventilators where they were needed, on time.

Frequently asked questions

What was this project about?

During the pandemic, the Canadian government awarded a contract to manufacture 10,000 ventilators for hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. The manufacturer designed a new device and contracted GPSI to manage the logistics of supplies, accelerate product delivery, and support quality validation for assembly.

How many parts did GPSI track?

GPSI helped track and deliver over 80,000 parts manufactured within six months, across a supplier network spanning four countries.

Where were the suppliers located?

GPSI deployed agents at the final assembly facility and at multiple sub-tier supplier sites in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Poland.

What is a line of balance chart?

A line of balance (LOB) chart is a scheduling technique that shows whether each part or stage is keeping pace with the production plan, making shortages visible early so they can be fulfilled before they stall the line.

What was the result?

The logistics were stabilized and delivery of the final product was consistent and on time, with just-in-time delivery keeping the production lines fed throughout the program.

Launching a new product on a tight clock?

GPSI embeds agents across your supplier network to track every part, monitor shortages, and feed your line just in time — so new product integration stays on schedule. Let’s find a time to connect.

Explore Supply Chain Services Canada toll free: 866-980-1387 · US: 316-263-1288 · UK: 44 121 295 6504