Smart technology: The next stage for medical device manufacturing
Author : Mark Yeeles, Schneider Electric UK and Ireland
13 April 2022
As we enter the new age of automation and smart factories, digitisation will be essential for the future of the medical device industry. Although not without challenges, the overwhelming benefits of automation, digitisation and the turbo-charging effect of smart technology enable factories to produce more while lowering costs.
In the last two years, the medical device industry has come under pressure to meet the increasing demands of its customers and partners while ensuring the affordability and accessibility of equipment for all. The sector has quickly realised that adopting innovative technologies to address unprecedented situations and bring transformational changes to the way product life is managed is critical.
In particular, technologies including big data, robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and 3D control have significant roles in boosting the efficiency and productivity of factories. Ultimately, they enable manufacturers to respond with new products, packaging formats and materials to meet the changing demands of clients.
To keep up with innovation, it is expected that the medical device industry will see more smart manufacturing solutions that focus on fundamental value propositions, such as improving manufacturing agility, optimising end-to-end manufacturing costs, digitalising validation practices, compliance management and production operations.
So, how will the sector utilise smart manufacturing technology? It’s time for the industry to take the following steps on its innovation journey.
Meeting the challenges in the medical device market
Innovation in manufacturing technology has never been more critical and in greater demand in the medical device market. During the course of the pandemic, there has been a need to increase manufacturing operational agility, maintain product quality and improve time to market, while keeping costs low and limiting downtime for improvements.
The key to success is bringing the “smart” concept to plant assets & equipment, energy management, and continuous and batch processes, as well as to the plant operators and the asset & equipment suppliers and distributors.
This is where smart manufacturing solutions come into play.
Smarter is better
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines the smart landscape as “fully integrated, collaborative manufacturing systems that respond in real-time to meet changing demands and conditions in the factory, supply network and in customer needs”. Smart factories that embrace planning, supply chain logistics and all aspects of product development and innovation, have almost limitless potential.
Medical device manufacturers, just like other manufacturers, need to bring the benefits of digital transformation to all people, assets and processes involved in the manufacturing ecosystem. One thing is sure: entering the new age of smart factories requires the right balance between automation and robotics, never forgetting the pivotal role that humans have in order to make production processes successful.
Once this has been realised, efficiency and resilience will become the norm, and manufacturers can thrive in an increasingly competitive market. Those failing to adopt smart manufacturing technologies and practices are likely to fall behind in short order and potentially disappear.
Investing in innovation
To address industry trends, market drivers and challenges, we expect the medical device industry will see more smart manufacturing solutions that focus on key value propositions, such as improving manufacturing agility, optimising end-to-end drug manufacturing costs, and digitalising validation practices, compliance management and production operations.
By digitalising quality and production processes, the industry will benefit from end-to-end traceability to ensure product integrity. This is particularly evident when it comes to medical device production which can use smart manufacturing solutions to meet the constantly changing industry pressures and demands. These technologies enable manufacturers to enhance processes, quality, line performance, competitiveness, and compliance.
These smart manufacturing solutions will help the industry digitalise their operations, which will help these companies to reduce time-to-value, improve efficiency and asset utilisation, and do so while ensuring product integrity, regulatory compliance and safety requirements are met. Medical device manufacturers, whose products can have a limited shelf life and can require special storage conditions, can maximise profitability and quickly scale up production while limiting inventory.
Another benefit of smart manufacturing that is driving today’s digital transformation is the ability to deliver workflow software solutions to enforce production rules and manufacturing procedures, enhance knowledge management, and drive collaboration across the workforce.
What does the future hold?
Medical device companies are seeking solutions to improve product quality and reduce costs. Smart manufacturing will enable information-driven operations which offer virtually infinite potential to improve business performance.
These smart manufacturing solutions will help the medical device industry digitalise its operations, which will help companies to reduce time-to-value, improve efficiency and asset utilisation, and ensure product integrity, regulatory compliance and safety requirements are met.
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