SCMS Publications

SCMS Technical Brief: "RDC and Inventory Management Technical Brief." (May 2007)

This technical brief addresses how in the past, HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs in Africa relied on infrequent shipments of large quantities of antiretrovirals, HIV test kits and other essential supplies—often enough to cover more than six months of consumption. By pre-positioning strategic inventory of those items regionally, and by making small, frequent shipments to client countries, SCMS ensures rapid response to program needs and protects local supply chain infrastructure from overload, thus enabling scale-up.

SCMS In Brief: "Freight and Logistics." (Janurary 2010)

This technical brief explains how SCMS utilizes UPS, a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, to plan and coordinate shipments and negotiate pricing with carriers worldwide; PHD, a South African 3PL, coordinates road shipments within Africa. Through technical assistance, SCMS has worked with clients to develop forecasts and demand plans for commodities that help SCMS and our clients to plan for switching appropriate shipments from air freight to sea and/or road and avoid periods of peak shipping prices, reducing costs by as much as 90 percent.

SCMS Technical Brief:"Freight Forwarding." (March 2010)

This technical brief discusses how managing a supply chain that serves multiple developing countries with commodities from worldwide sources presents considerable challenges, from operating in a resource-limited infrastructure to overcoming high-risk conditions—particularly when the products being moved are high-value pharmaceuticals or require temperature control. SCMS leverages the best practices of leading international and in-country transportation providers, along with a web-based tracking tool for in-transit visibility, to ensure efficient freight forwarding and improved supply chain performance.

SCMS Publication: "Self-instructional Training for New Medicine Dispensers in Vietnam." (November 2009)

This report outlines how SCMS planned, implemented and evaluated an underutilized, cost-effective and successful training methodology for dispensers antiretroviral medicines in Vietnam which includes a self-instructional training manual.

SCMS Technical Brief: "Regional Distribution Centers and Inventory Management." (September 2010)

This technical brief addresses how in the past, HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs in Africa relied on infrequent shipments of large quantities of antiretrovirals, HIV test kits and other essential supplies—often enough to cover more than six months of consumption. By pre-positioning strategic inventory of those items regionally, and by making small, frequent shipments to client countries, SCMS ensures rapid response to program needs and protects local supply chain infrastructure from overload, thus enabling scale-up.

SCMS Brochure: Saving Lives and Costs in Redesigning Ethiopia’s ART Supply Chain System

Learn how SCMS helped transmorm an ART system in Ethiopia into a "Pull" system with impactful results.

SCMS FAQ: RDC's

Learn about the benefits of going through an RDC rather than just shipping directly.

Community Contributions

USAID/DELIVER PROJECT Publication: "Transport Management: A Self-Learning Guide for Local Transport Managers of Public Health Services." (October 2010)

This guide comprises a self-directed course on managing sustainable, cost-effective transport management systems for Ministries of Health and other organizations implementing public health programs. It is written for local managers of public health services.

PEPFAR Fact Sheet: "Smart Investments: Making the Most of Every Dollar Invested." (2011)

In this fact sheet, PEPFAR outlines ways that programs are ‘getting a bigger bang for the buck.’ The fact sheet cites SCMS’s efforts to reduce shipping costs by switching from air freight to sea and land. In addition, it highlights success in driving down the cost of ARVs and current activities to support male circumcision: two initiatives that our work greatly impacts.