MPO Staff Report02.04.09
Destination: Costa Rica
Industry leaders to tackle international manufacturing issues during first international MPO Symposium.
MPO Staff Report
Leaders from medical device manufacturing firms and their outsourcing partners will gather in March for the first international installment of MPO’s successful series of conferences. The Medical Product Outsourcing Symposium Costa Rica will be held from March 4-6 at the Costa Rica Marriott San Jose, which was voted one of the top 10 hotels in Mexico and Central America by Condé Nast Traveler magazine.
With an emphasis on networking and education, this unique event builds on years of in-depth and insightful program content from MPO and a host of talented speakers, providing medical device manufacturers and suppliers with a framework to implement improved outsourcing strategies, useful market data, and tips to navigate an ever-changing and complex market.
The program agenda (see page 87) is designed to help participants evaluate current practices and uncover new opportunities with the help of colleagues, consultants and industry experts. As medical device companies grow (or plan for future expansion), developing an international manufacturing “footprint” in a lower-cost location—often with the help of an outsourcing partner—is a key part of a successful formula, particularly as firms seek to rein in costs, while maintaining the highest level of safety, efficacy and quality. But before a company is able to leverage such opportunities, numerous factors must be considered and questions answered, such as:
• How will my supply chain be affected?
• How do I maintain quality?
• How do I choose the right manufacturing partner?
• How do I audit my supplier’s processes and facilities?
• What are the risks to my intellectual property, and how do I protect it?
• How do I mitigate risk?
These are valid and important considerations when a company is outsourcing around the corner. But they become even more critical when a medical device firm outsources around the world. Whether the location is Vietnam, China, Poland or Costa Rica, much of the approach remains the same, according to industry experts.
Andy Schramm, partner of the Medical Device sector at Tefen, a leading international management consulting firm, said, “Symposiums such as MPO allow industry leaders and experts to discuss critical issues they are facing, such as supply chain risk. Through attending such forums, organizations can gain valuable insight into best practices, strategies and methods of mitigating supply chain risk in order to maintain and or improve business continuity.”
Plant Tours
As a special event, conference participants will have the opportunity to tour the facilities of some of the largest international medical device manufacturers. Allergan, Boston Scientific, Hologic and Hospira have agreed to open their doors to Symposium attendees. Participants will indicate which facilities they would like to see, and tours will be assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis. Following a busy morning of conference presentations, discussions and a networking lunch, buses will depart for the plant tours.
The groups will reconvene later in the evening at the hotel for a relaxed cocktail reception and dinner. And to ensure the event isn’t all work and no play, informal networking opportunities continue on Friday with a golf outing at the neighboring Valle del Sol golf course. Tee it up, and talk shop with current industry colleagues and valuable new contacts.
The event has been endorsed by CINDE, the Costa Rican investment promotion agency. The MedTech Group and Memry are gold sponsors; Polymer Solutions, ATEK Medical and Precision Concepts Costa Rica are silver sponsors. Covidien has signed on as a supporting company of the program.