Advancing Medical Device Manufacturing with Factory of the Future Technology

Medical device manufacturers face many of the same challenges that other producers of complex devices and equipment face: controlling costs, maintaining tight inventories and well-coordinated global supply chains, and sustaining flexibility in their production operations so they can change product mix and introduce new products as market requirements change and new opportunities arise. However, medical device manufacturers also face several challenges unique to their industry: They produce vital, life-saving products that millions of people depend on for both short-term and long-term care. Their work and products are highly regulated, with concurrent requirements for extensive documentation and rigorous quality control of their operations. Cost pressures due to both government price controls in many markets and competition lead some manufacturers to locate production in low-cost countries or to invest in increased automation to manage labor costs. Whether a company is producing diagnostic equipment for cancer screening, ventilators for ICUs, disposable devices such as syringes, or implantable devices such as pacemakers or stents for cardiac procedures, the manufacturing process must be error-free. At the same time, to be profitable and agile, there is a constant need to sustain high levels of throughput and the ability to “flex” their production systems to remain competitive and satisfy emerging market needs. At first glance, faster through...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Assembly and Automation Source Type: news