Case Study: From Manufacturing Standstill to RFP-Ready in 60 Days 

Company Type 

An early-stage medical technology startup focused on developing specialized medical equipment.  

Challenge 

The company consisted primarily of physicians and engineers who did not specialize in supply chain expertise or formal project management capabilities. These gaps became especially problematic when they encountered manufacturing issues that halted production and disrupted their ability to scale operations.  

The company found itself in a precarious position after its contract manufacturing relationship deteriorated and resulted in a complete stop in manufacturing. 

The urgency of the situation was compounded by their lack of internal resources to manage either the recovery process or the development of a new supplier pipeline. 

The most pressing issues included: 

• A fractured relationship with the incumbent contract manufacturer. 

• Loss of design documentation and production control. 

• No in-house supply chain or project management expertise. 

• Immediate need to secure a new manufacturing and supply chain partner through a formal RFP. 

Strategic Objectives 

Waypost Advisors was brought in to prepare the company to successfully execute an RFP that would restore manufacturing operations and position the company for growth. The strategic goals for the engagement included: 

• Re-establishing ownership of key design and production documentation. 

• Building contingency plans to ensure future business continuity. 

• Identifying and vetting appropriate contract manufacturing partners. 

• Creating a professional and complete RFP package ready for distribution. 

The desired outcome was to resolve the immediate crisis and to elevate the company’s operational maturity in preparation for more sophisticated supply chain partnerships. 

Approach 

Waypost initiated the engagement with a comprehensive evaluation of the company’s operational status and documentation landscape. This began with a series of stakeholder interviews involving company leadership, engineering staff, the finance team, and the founder. Waypost also reviewed all available technical documents, identifying critical gaps that needed to be filled before the RFP could be launched. 

Assessment areas included: 

• Historical and current supply chain performance. 

• Status of documentation such as BOMs, assembly instructions, and test protocols. 

• Feasibility of potential contingency plans. 

• Internal resourcing constraints and project management needs. 

Following the assessment, Waypost deployed a structured process to address the company’s deficiencies. Weekly project meetings were established to maintain momentum and coordination. During these sessions, the team aligned to the future-state criteria for manufacturing partners, ensuring all stakeholders had input into the evaluation framework. 

Tools and methodologies utilized: 

• Project planning templates with critical path mapping. 

• Documentation audits and data reconstruction. 

• Weighted scoring criteria for supplier selection. 

• RFP data packaging templates and communication assets. 

As part of the hands-on support, Waypost also recovered or recreated key documents lost during the previous manufacturing handoff. These deliverables were critical for restoring product integrity and enabling the company to engage potential partners credibly. 

Deliverables produced: 

• A complete project plan outlining timelines, milestones, and resources. 

• A narrowed list of 4 well-qualified RFP participants from an initial pool of 13. 

• Signed NDAs with selected partners. 

• A comprehensive RFP data package including: 

• Product bill of materials 

• Assembly and configuration instructions 

• Testing and packaging protocols 

• Technical specifications and schematics 

• An introductory RFP letter detailing participation requirements, evaluation criteria, and response deadlines. 

Conclusion & Results 

Waypost helped the company move from operational standstill to RFP readiness. The client regained full control of its design documentation and re-established a clear, structured approach to supplier engagement. The finalized list of four RFP participants included manufacturing partners uniquely aligned to the client’s product, size, and desired capabilities. 

The engagement not only solved the immediate manufacturing issue but also provided the company with: 

• Renewed operational confidence. 

• Improved internal alignment and communication. 

• A sustainable path forward for managing supply chain partners. 

This transformation laid the groundwork for future growth and ensured the company could make informed, strategic decisions about its manufacturing relationships going forward. 

 ©2025 Waypost Advisors LLC