SPEAR Physical Therapy: ​Vendor Management & Product Innovation
SPEAR’s clinic operations were hampered by aging physical therapy tables. Some had rips, instability, and inconsistent sizes. I was assigned to overhaul inventory and coordinate the procurement and deployment of over 200 therapy tables across all locations. My goal was to establish a long-term vendor relationship while innovating a product that fit the spatial and clinical needs of SPEAR’s growing network.
My Role
IT & Process Improvement Project Assistant
Team
IT & Operations
Timeline
Dec 2021 - May 2022
My Responsibilities:
I evaluated vendor options, negotiated pricing, led product testing with clinic staff, and managed delivery and assembly logistics. I documented vendor lead times, mapped installation phases, and created quality assurance protocols. I also proposed using one of SPEAR’s unopened clinics as a temporary staging hub for storage and QA.
Tools and Methodologies Used:
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Excel was used for tracking existing table conditions, product delivery status, and deployment stages.
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I used a Waterfall approach with Agile-style iteration to allow for phased delivery to multiple locations.
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Subcontractors were onboarded for last-mile delivery and on-site assembly.
Challenges & Solutions
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One major challenge was finding tables that could fit smaller clinics without compromising weight support. I partnered with Oakworks, who custom-manufactured a 24”W x 72”L table (down from their standard 32”) with a tested load capacity of 300 lbs.
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Another challenge was synchronizing decommissioning of old tables with delivery of new ones. I solved this by routing inventory through the unopened clinic, which allowed QA checks and staggered deployment.
Key Outcomes & Metrics:
Clinics saw a 30% increase in treatment capacity by adding 2–4 tables per site. SPEAR avoided the need for external warehousing, reducing project costs. Oakworks became SPEAR’s long-term vendor, and the custom product is now a standard in their catalog.
Lessons Learned:
Vendor relationships thrive on transparency and innovation. By showing Oakworks the scale and long-term opportunity, I created a win-win scenario that benefited both companies and unlocked future value.
Project Artifacts
