MD&M Texas will be hosting Learning Labs aimed at informing and inspiring attendees about the latest trends and technologies that are impacting medical manufacturing and technology.

The conference and trade show takes place May 7–8, 2014, in Fort Worth, TX.

Here are some of the hot topics that will be covered at the conference.

Innovative Packaging

Dee Brewer, senior packaging technologist at Gruma Corp., will discuss “Building a Roadmap for Developing Electronically Enabled Packaging” May 7, from 1 to 1:40 p.m. His talk will revolve around “smart packaging” and will include case studies and cover analyzing packaging as a usability, customer experience, and enhancement tool. Attendees will see how smart packaging can facilitate a deeper customer connection.

That same day, from 2:20 to 3 p.m., the session “Interactive Packaging Technology for Engaging Customers and Product Differentiation” will discuss developments in smart packaging, including RFID tags, augmented reality, and near field communication.

3-D Printing

May 7, from 3:40 to 4:20 p.m., in the session “Advanced Applications of 3-D Printing: From Inoperative to Functional Prototyping,” Michael Moussa, product development engineer at PartSnap, will discuss methods of integrating functional 3-D printing into your current applications including tooling, assembly fit checks, production, and unique applications.

Later that day, from 4:20 to 5 p.m., the session, “New Materials in 3-D Printing; Embedding Electronics and Hightemp Polymers” will discuss 3-D printing in conjunction with printable electronics. Attendees will be introduced to current and emerging materials in additive manufacturing technology as well as new developments for multimaterial printing to strengthen current uses and prototypes.

Robotics

How will advancements in robotics impact the human workforce? On May 8, from 1 to 1:40 p.m., Dan Poppa, a multiscale robotics professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, will host a Learning Lab, “Collaborative Robotics: Aligning Your Human and Robotic Workforce.” He will discuss common maintenance and safety concerns when implementing robotics into the human workforce, opportunities for robots in cleanrooms, material handling, and dangerous situations.

Later, from 3:40 to 4:20 p.m., John Meehan, MD, associate professor of surgery at Seattle Children’s International Robotic Surgery Center, will discuss “A Physician’s Perspective on Medical Robotics: Clinical Needs and Future Technology.” Meehan will discuss key aspects of medical robot capabilities that physicians require for adopting a new technologies and review examples of medical robots that have crossed the chasm for procedure adoption.

Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma

On May 8, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Edwin Garro, president of PXS Performance Excellence Solutions, will show attendees how to apply Lean manufacturing to understand customer needs, reduce risk, establish critical characteristics and process control, and use failure analysis to improve manufacturing. Garro will discuss how to empower and engage the workforce and create a Lean management system that engages frontline staff. 

-Chris Wiltz, Associate Editor, MD+DI
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