Intelligent Stock Control
With vendor managed inventory (VMI) solutions, MAG45 takes full responsibility for managing your inventory. Frequently used components and consumables are automatically replenished within pre-agreed minimum and maximum thresholds. Our automated VMI system provides real-time insights, seamless data integration, and ensures that you always have the right parts available, without overstocking, running out or worrying about compliance.
Our inventory solutions provide you with inventory certainty, without the administrative hassle.
MAG45 as your VMI expert
At MAG45, we specialize in optimizing complex, non-strategic supply chains for high-tech, med-tech and industrial manufacturers. Our VMI services are designed to align seamlessly with your operations, combining smart logistics, automation, and data-driven decision-making. Whether through Stock at Hand, vending machines, or storeroom management, our VMI services are more than just a convenience, they are a strategic advantage
What is Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI)?
Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) is a supply chain solution where the supplier, rather than the buyer, takes full responsibility for managing the inventory. This means that instead of placing individual purchase orders, the supplier monitors consumption data, plans replenishment, and ensures that the right products are always available at the right location. The result? Lower inventory costs, reduced administrative workload, and fewer stockouts or overstock situations. With VMI, your inventory becomes more responsive, predictable, and aligned with actual usage, freeing up resources and increasing operational efficiency.
The most popular VMI Solutions
At MAG45, we offer a tailored suite of VMI systems designed to fit the specific needs of high-tech, med-tech, and industrial manufacturers. Our solutions combine automation, visibility, technology and operational ease to ensure a reliable and cost-effective VMI process. These are the core VMI solutions we implement:
- Stock at Hand (SAH) – We manage on-site inventory within predefined min-max levels, ensuring parts are available exactly when needed, without overstocking.
- Vending machines – Ideal for frequently used consumables, tools, and PPE. These smart units track usage by user or department and automatically trigger replenishment
- Storeroom management – Our experts optimize storeroom layouts, flows, and replenishment cycles to create structure and efficiency within your internal logistics.
Furthermore, MAG45 uses a mix of supporting tools and concepts, such as self-scanning solutions, Kanban systems, and consignment stock models, to offer a flexible and scalable VMI solution tailored to your operational environment. This ensures that each setup delivers maximum benefit in terms of cost control, availability, and process efficiency.
Industries that benefit from VMI solutions
VMI solutions are especially valuable in industries where uptime, compliance, and complexity are critical. At MAG45, we focus on sectors where the need for continuity and control is highest.
High Tech machinery
Med Tech
Industrial manufacturing
Where precision, cleanliness, and just-in-time availability are crucial. Our VMI ensures cleanroom-compatible components are always ready for use.
In a highly regulated environment, VMI helps ensure compliant stock handling and full traceability for every item used in production or maintenance.
With vast product portfolios and global operations, VMI simplifies stock management, reduces supplier fragmentation, and enables cross-site standardization.
Benefits of VMI for your business
Why are more manufacturers switching to vendor managed inventory? Well, implementing a professional VMI solution brings more than just operational convenience. Here are five key benefits of VMI that businesses experience when partnering with MAG45.
Improved availability and reduced downtime
Lower inventory and working capital
Less admin workload
Full transparency and control
Scalable across sites and regions
By managing inventory levels based on real-time data, VMI ensures that critical components are always available, avoiding costly production stops.
Stock levels are optimized within agreed parameters, significantly reducing overstock and freeing up capital tied in unused inventory.
No more manual stock checks, order requests, or supplier follow-ups. Our VMI system automates replenishment and reporting.
With our dashboards and reporting tools, you gain real-time insights into stock movements, usage trends, and supplier performance.
Whether you operate locally or globally, our vendor managed inventory setup can be rolled out across multiple locations for consistent performance and standardization.
Blog: Understanding VMI, The Key to Inventory Success
Want to learn more about VMI and how it helps supply chains run smoother than ever? See here a deep dive into how vendor managed inventory guides organizations towards streamlined operations and sustainable growth.
The VMI process explained
Our VMI process is designed to take complexity out of your hands. From setup to daily operations, we ensure your inventory is continuously optimized and always aligned with your actual needs. Here’s how our VMI services work in practice.
- Initial assessment & setup – We start by analyzing your usage data, part flows, and stock levels. Based on this, we define the optimal VMI solutions (Stock at Hand, vending machines, storeroom management) and set min-max parameters for each item.
- System integration & onboarding – We connect with your ERP or MES systems, or work via standalone solutions, depending on your IT landscape. Replenishment logic, reporting, and dashboards are configured during this phase.
- Stock monitoring & automatic replenishment – Our VMI system tracks stock usage in real time. When inventory drops below the minimum level, replenishment orders are triggered automatically—no manual work needed.
- On-site management & logistics – Whether it’s restocking vending machines, managing storerooms, or delivering to point-of-use, our team ensures timely and accurate fulfillment across your operations.
- Continuous improvement & reporting – Through regular reviews and performance dashboards, we identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve availability, and further streamline your supply chain.
Discover how VMI powers your integrated supply chain
A strong supply chain starts with smart inventory control, and our VMI solutions do just that. By ensuring availability, transparency, and efficiency at the inventory level, VMI creates the foundation of your inventory management. But inventory is just one part of our broader, integrated supply approach. By also streamlining sourcing and logistics, at MAG45, we bring it all together under one integrated model.
Tail Supply Management
We take full control of your fragmented supplier base and low-volume purchasing, turning complexity into simplicity. Through supplier consolidation, structured sourcing, and end-to-end coordination, we create a resilient and cost-effective tail supply operation.
Kitting
With our Kitting solutions, we deliver pre-assembled kits tailored to your production or maintenance needs. This improves workflow efficiency, reduces picking errors, and ensures the right parts arrive, ready to use—every time.
Why choose MAG45 for VMI solutions?
Companies in high-tech, med-tech and industrial manufacturing choose MAG45 because we don’t just manage inventory, we optimize it as a strategic part of your supply chain. Our VMI solutions ensure availability, reduce complexity, and provide full visibility, so your teams can focus on what truly matters: delivering value.
Integrated inventory control
Compliance without compromise
With over 75 years of tail supply experience, we combine smart technology, proven processes, and hands-on support to keep your inventory running like clockwork.
From critical stock traceability to documentation and storage conditions—we build compliance into every step of the VMI process.
Sector-specific solutions
Global presence, local execution
We understand the unique demands of high-tech, med-tech and industrial manufacturing. Our VMI setups are tailored to fit your operational and regulatory environment.
We operate internationally with local teams on-site, ensuring your VMI system performs consistently across multiple locations and geographies.
FAQ
How does VMI differ from traditional inventory management?
In traditional models, the buyer is responsible for tracking usage, placing orders, and managing stock. With vendor managed inventory, the supplier, MAG45 in this case, takes over this responsibility, automating replenishment, reducing manual effort, and improving availability through data-driven planning.
Is VMI the same as consignment stock?
No, they are not the same. Consignment stock means the supplier retains ownership of the inventory until it is consumed, offering financial advantages like delayed billing. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), on the other hand, refers to the supplier actively managing stock levels based on real-time usage data and agreed replenishment parameters. Even though the supplier manages the inventory, it doesn’t mean they own it.
Can VMI be customized to my operations?
Absolutely. Our VMI solution is always tailored to the production flows, inventory needs, and IT environment of the client we work for. Whether you need Stock at Hand, vending machines or storeroom management, we design the setup that fits you best.
How quickly can a VMI solution be implemented?
Implementation timelines depend on your specific needs and complexity, but in general, a basic VMI system can go live within a few months. We ensure minimal disruption and full alignment with your internal processes.