The Covid-19 pandemic was a teachable moment for the medical device industry. It laid bare to vulnerabilities within the U.S. healthcare system, including how quickly our supply chain can be disrupted, the impacts on medical inventory and stockpiles of personal protection equipment (PPE), and staff shortages. In a survey by Ernst & Young, 57% of companies admitted facing serious disruptions during these times. In an industry where medical supply inventory is mission-critical, and disruption is not an option, it is important to revisit your health plan and pivot in strategies so when these unforeseen events occur, you are ready for anything that comes your way.
From physical to digital
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Right now, considerable preparation is shoring up the physical equipment supply chain for frontline workers and patients. Truth be told, the impacts of having a digital health production plan are significant. While digital stockpiling is still an undervalued strategy among medical device companies, the benefits of access to produce repeatable and reliable devices at a moment’s notice is, in fact, the answer to addressing any forthcoming supply chain disruptions. It’s relatively simple to say but harder to implement. The good news is that 92% of companies surveyed are investing in new technologies, emphasizing the recognition of the need for digital supply chains. So, how can this be accomplished? One way is investing in Additive Manufacturing (AM or 3D printing).
ADD additive manufacturing
By using AM, medical manufacturers can quickly scale up production of products like PPE and nasal swabs when needed, thus mitigating disruptions to the supply chain. By investing in AM, there will be no paralysis from analysis when a crisis occurs. Why? AM allows for decentralized manufacturing, meaning parts can be printed and built anywhere in the world, which can drastically reduce downtime that is often associated with traditional PPE manufacturing and shipment. For example, if manufacturing had to be done across 150 sites, ask yourself how could production scale up quickly? Is all of the documentation available to send this out? Are there sites to heatmap or locations to hone in on that have the most production capacity? Digital stockpiling and digital production planning can answer all of these questions.
Taking this approach with AM simplifies the barriers to entry as inventory can be printed on-demand, enabling a more sustainable way to manufacture equipment with less waste.
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Predict…predict….predict
Understanding the value and market need for predictive analytics to determine supply chain requirements and potential challenges is essential. Additive Manufacturing technology can use quantifiable market data to better determine the demand for the technology. Adding AM to the digital workflow also makes smart business sense because files can be printed anywhere when inventory is low.
When using AM in a digital stockpiling strategy, the part files are stored in a secure cloud database or created from an onsite CAD file. Since they are not tooled or made in one place and do not have to be transferred across multiple modes of transportation, hospitals and medical facilities will save time and money on warehousing costs since parts can be printed using the proper geometry with the right materials each time. Not only that, but as part of the holistic digital production plan, the regulatory requirements, design history files, manufacturing work instructions (MWIs) of the products, and regulatory requirements are all included, streamlining compliance requirements.
The bottom line is that whether it’s face shields in the ER or other eye protection in the doctor’s office, one thing is clear: if you don’t plan, predict, and pivot in your strategies, when another pandemic, weather-related event, or emergency strikes, you will not be prepared. Shift from the stock shelf to the digital shelf and invest today in AM technology so medical facilities can easily create repeatable, durable PPE on-demand printing to accelerate the process of securely printing equipment for medical professionals. This way, they never face an equipment shortage again as they did during the previous pandemic.
Photo: Klaus Vedfelt, Getty Images
Scott Drikakis is the Global Medical Segment Leader at Stratasys, the world's leading provider of 3D printing solutions, he leads a global team of business managers, directors, and engineers for all medical engagements within the Medtech and Hospital industry for digital, CDMO and additive manufacturing applications. A 20-year veteran in healthcare sales and market development, Scott is a passionate and servant oriented leader who helps the medical industry transition to strategies that improve clinical outcomes, compliance, and scalability.
