A GUIDE TO CHOOSING YOUR MEDICAL MANUFACTURING PARTNER

+ TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 - Introduction Welcome! 3 - Medical Manufacturing History 4 - The Benefits of Hiring a Robot 7 - Local vs Global Manufacturing Partners 9 - The Elephant in the Room: Brexit 10 - Medical Manufacturing Services 11 - Medical Manufacturing Applications 13 - Medical Manufacturing Capabilities If you’re reading this e-book, then you’re probably looking for a place to start when it comes to getting a product made with a medical device and equipment manufacturer. Maybe you’ve come up with an incredible new concept that the public is yearning for. Maybe your old relationship with...

MEDICAL MANUFACTURING HISTORY Before you begin your journey to 昀椀nding your perfect manufacturing partner, it can be helpful to know the collective history they all share. Medical manufacturing, as we know it today, was created in the early 1900s. While there was certainly manufacturing done for some of the more nightmarish devices of earlier eras (used for such old-timey procedures like ‘bloodletting’), once the germ theory of medicine 昀椀rmly took hold and the assembly line was invented by Henry Ford, the two were married, and medical innovations became quicker, easier, and cheaper to produce....

In short, a lot has developed since the early incarnations of medical manufacturing. We have precise technology to manufacture devices from the mundane to the spectacular. We have machines adept at anything from slitting to die-cutting to pouching. Medical manufacturing companies now focus on offering a vast array of products – from the simplest wound care equipment to advanced wearable medical technology. Not only that, the end-to-end management of their products – from sourcing materials right down to delivery logistics – has become a hallmark. THE BENEFITS OF EMPLOYING A ROBOT While the technology...

If there is anything that we have come to understand about medical devices and equipment, it is that precision may be the single most important aspect of their production. Yes, sometimes these devices are little more than a tongue depressor, but oftentimes, with these devices, you are holding a person’s life in the balance. In the 21st century, automation has come a long way from the assembly line. Robotic automation these days can incorporate a whole host of solutions, from the initial design through to manufacturing and even into the realm of distribution. Along with adaptability, automation...

These are medical devices that have direct contact and a major in昀氀uence on the wearer’s health and wellbeing. Like any provider of medical supplies from devices to services to medication, there are going to be some understandably detailed legal and ethical guidelines that a manufacturer must follow. Having an ISO 13485 quali昀椀cation and being registered with the Food and Drug Administration is a must, as well as having registered production sites and staff with the proper education and quali昀椀cations. When vetting a potential partner, simply asking for proof of these quali昀椀cations should be...

LOCAL VS GLOBAL MANUFACTURING PARTNERS What exactly does your manufacturer do themselves? This question, as opposed to the other ones above, may be a little less common. While some producers only focus on the assembly of the device and prefer to outsource elements like sourcing (the irony…) or distribution, more trustworthy companies offer a complete process – following the product from conception all the way to delivery to the client. That way there is total control over the process from start to 昀椀nish, eliminating the potential for costly errors down the line. Those four qualities listed above...

However, a friendly relationship at the beginning will quickly turn sour if you overlooked productivity and ef昀椀ciency in the name of patriotic job creation. While there is generally better communication, more effective logistics, and streamlined management with local partners, you must weigh these bene昀椀ts with a comparatively smaller market. If you have modest local or national goals for your medical products, then local may well work for you. However, if you have any aspirations of taking your products internationally, then choosing a local partner might be limited by their connections to...

Finding a global partner who has a hand in everything can consolidate all your costs in one place rather than having to spread yourself thin and racking up costs and tariffs from dozens of different companies, each involved in one aspect of production or another. Choosing a CMO with consolidated and reliable networks is the right move, and investing with the right people is one of the most important ways to actually deal with Brexit. Communication is, again, an important consideration to your Brexit reaction. If you are already in a partnership or are considering a partnership with a CMO, ask...

comes in. Companies will maintain entire divisions of their organisations dedicated solely to the groundwork of the product. Not only this, but these manufacturers are constantly using these wings to conceptualise, innovate, and test out new products and novel ideas. Manufacturing organizations would not go far without their own team dedicated to exploring new systems to reduce cost or wasted time. Does the company you’re working with have a prototyping department? MEDICAL MANUFACTURING SERVICES Now it’s time to get down to the nitty gritty– what can your potential CMO actually do for you in...

Medical Adhesives In a similar vein, medical adhesives must be selected with the utmost of care and experience – particularly with medical equipment and devices that are intended to stick to the skin. How much breathability must be present with the device? Will it need a powerful adhesive to compensate for a heavier frame? While this is one of the more nebulous of the above services – it should probably be at the forefront of your mind. Notwithstanding the other services that the CMO offers, how are their products? How reliable are they? What is their longevity? What is their reputation? These...