In Short Supply

In today’s world, every day brings news of a new shortage or production delay.

Aluminum is in short supply.

Aluminum, a metal used in wheelchairs and a wide variety of CRT products as well as durable medical equipment such as crutches, walkers and canes, is in great demand. Intense workforce shutdowns in other parts of the world and rising energy costs have slowed production of the lightweight metal, creating a shortage of aluminum that’s affecting a number of industries beyond CRT, such as packaging, breweries and more.

There’s a shortage of semiconductor chips.

Semiconductor chips, sometimes called microchips, are used in countless consumer products, from cars to video game consoles as well as diagnostic equipment used by healthcare providers, such as ultrasound machines, CT scanning devices and more. They are also a vital component of power wheelchairs and power-assisted manual wheelchairs. With production slowed around the globe, the chips are in high demand and short supply, leading to longer lead times on CRT orders and repairs.

Logistical challenges are further stressing the supply chain.

Moving raw materials, components and products between locations is a major part of the CRT supply chain. While congestion at U.S. ports has begun to ease, transporting goods from place to place is still a challenge. Labor shortages
have further exacerbated delays in production, shipping, repairs and more.

Through all of these challenges, new ways of thinking and doing
things have arisen. At NSM, we have created new processes and
improved our communications—and those improvements won’t go away even after supply chain issues subside.

“Our main focus has always been to ensure we meet our clients’ needs so they can live life to the fullest.” Lowman says.