Invacare 2013 Annual Report Download - page 17

I-11
• Designed to handle the most common transfer situations with ease, the new Invacare® I-Lift™ Series was launched in
North America with a 450 pound weight capacity to accommodate patient transfers from a bed, a stretcher, a wheelchair,
a commode and even from the floor. With increased maneuverability, intuitive ease of use and enhanced safety features,
the I-Lift™ Series delivers advanced features that help protect and assist caregivers in providing safe and effective
healthcare to their patients.
• The Company introduced several new products to its personal care line in Europe. The additions include the Aquatec®
Bidet, which was launched in November 2013, as well as accessories, such as an angle adjustable footrest and variable
soft seat, for the Aquatec® Ocean range of bath safety products.
Introducing new product solutions to the market will allow the Company to resume its globalization program designed
to harmonize core product offerings and reduce complexity within the business thereby increasing cost-effectiveness. In addition,
by streamlining its engineering and product development capabilities on a global basis, the Company expects to further increase
its industry leadership with the broadest range of product offerings in both homecare and continuing care medical device equipment.
This will uniquely position the Company in a changing healthcare environment.
MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLIERS
The Company’s objective is to continue to reduce costs and possibly consolidate facilities to maintain its high quality supply.
The Company seeks to achieve this objective through a strategic combination of Invacare manufacturing facilities, contract
manufacturing facilities and key suppliers.
The supply chain is focused on providing custom-configured, made-to-order manufactured products as well as high-quality,
cost-effective solutions for standard stock products. As strategic choices are made globally, the Company will continue to be
focused on providing quick product delivery to the market as a specific competitive advantage to the marketing and sales teams
in these regions.
The Company continues to emphasize reducing the costs of its global manufacturing and distribution operations. Access to
sourcing opportunities has been facilitated by the Company’s establishment of a test and design engineering facility in the
Company’s Suzhou, China location.
Best practices in lean manufacturing are used throughout the Company’s operations to eliminate waste, shorten lead times,
optimize inventory, improve productivity, drive quality and engage supply chain associates in the defining and implementation of
needed change.
The Company purchases raw materials, components, sub-assemblies and finished goods from a variety of suppliers around
the world. The Company’s Asian sourcing and purchasing office has proven to be an asset to the Company’s supply chain through
the identification, development and management of suppliers across Asia. Where appropriate, Invacare utilizes contracts with
suppliers in all regions to increase the guarantees of delivery, cost, quality and responsiveness. In those situations where contracts
are not advantageous, Invacare works to manage multiple sources of supply and relationships that provide increased flexibility to
the supply chain.
North America
The Company has focused its factories in North America on the production of powered mobility and custom manual
wheelchairs and seating products, the fully integrated manufacture of homecare and institutional care beds, the final assembly of
respiratory therapy products and the integrated component fabrication, painting and final assembly of a variety of standard manual
wheelchairs and personal care products. The Company operates four major factories located in Elyria, Ohio; Sanford, Florida;
London, Ontario and Reynosa, Mexico. On February 12, 2014, the Company announced its decision to close its London
manufacturing facility by mid-2014. Production of case goods currently manufactured in London will be transferred to the Invacare
plant in Sanford, Florida. The long-term care beds production in London, Ontario will be outsourced to a third-party with established
FDA-registered manufacturing capabilities around the world. The third-party manufacturer has a significant focus on medical
devices, including acute care bed production.
Asia/Pacific
Invacare manufactures products that serve regional market opportunities through the Company’s wholly-owned factories
in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. The Suzhou facilities supply products to the major geographic regions of the world served
by Invacare: North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific.