Transforming the production of medical components

The medical component manufacturing industry plays a key role in producing several life-saving devices and parts that directly contribute to a better quality of life for citizens. With ageing populations, emerging healthcare challenges, and the growing emphasis on health, the demand for these products is only set to increase drastically.

- Mohamed Maitheen

The process of manufacturing medical components is often complicated and faces some unique challenges. Quality is paramount since a faulty product could even mean the difference between life and death. Given this, compliance with stringent regulatory guidelines is also part of the territory. As the demand for medical components goes up and their complexity increases, traditional manufacturing processes can no longer cater to industry requirements. The adoption of new-age technologies and processes is critical for medical component manufacturers to survive and thrive in this industry.

Addressing increasingly complex machines

Take the case of FMI, a Netherlands-based contract manufacturer for the global medical device industry that specialises in the serial production of orthopaedic implants and instruments. FMI historically programmed parts at the machine control until it realised that it was unable to maximise the potential of the increasingly complex machines it acquired. Also, the company had grown rapidly from just two people to a large operation with three shifts with several employees and machines. It became more important than ever to get jobs right the first time by maximising the technology that drives them.