Manufacturing
Managing Outsourcing for Success
It is well known that medical device manufacturers face increasing pressure to develop quality products faster while controlling costs. In addition, many of these manufacturers have fewer resources to dedicate to lengthy development projects, or are reluctant to add staff to do so....
Top Tips for Scaled Manufacturing
Scaled manufacturing helps take products from design and prototype to production. For medical device companies, fulfilling orders for safe and compliant products can be a demanding process. Companies do not always have the resources available to meet growing customer...
Japanese Device Manufacturers Warm to Rapid Heat Molding
Rapid heat cycle molding (RHCM), which is often used to fabricate home appliances and housings for electronic products, is finding new applications in the medtech industry, according to Ono Sangyo Co. (OSK), which holds an international patent on the technology. RHCM uses elevated...
Memry: The Virtues of Vertical Integration
Memry produces nitinol using a vertical integration approach. You don’t hear many companies bragging about their vertically integrated operations. In fact, the concept has fallen out of favor, as evidenced by firms rushing to outsource all but their core business...
Outsourcing on the Rise
A worker loads SMT parts for a new medical device. The medical device industry has historically maintained a low level of outsourcing activity, estimated to be only about 10% of cost of goods sold in 2010.1 There are several reasons for this, which can be summarized as...
Where Color Meets Clarity
Color-coded cannula systems must be made of material that offers clarity and remains color-stable after sterilization. Image courtesy of EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO. Clear medical devices are often essential to effective patient care. The transparency of plastic...
User Tips for Cleaning and Coating Professionals
Store solvents on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis. Even solvents with unlimited shelf life should be stored this way. The longer a packaged solvent sits unused, the more likely it is to be subjected to damage from mishandling and the accumulation of general warehouse grime. Glass...
Getting the Details Right
  The capability of state-of-the-art prototyping systems to rapidly produce high-resolution parts with fine detail has evolved significantly in the last few years. Some of these systems can now produce parts with medical-grade plastics, including Class VI materials suitable for...
Failure Isn’t an Option
In today’s world of manufacturing, companies are looking for less expensive ways to make products smaller and faster. Although this is the case for OEMs that integrate printed circuit boards (PCBs) into their products, a required standard of quality keeps medical device OEMs...
Overcoming Concerns about Outsourcing to Asia
Compared with other industries, medical device companies have been relatively slow to move their manufacturing activities to Asia. This is largely due to regulatory, quality, intellectual property (IP), and cost concerns related to doing business in the region. As a...