Introduction
Outsourcing production of medical disposable devices and systems can be a complex process. Sourcing teams are faced with challenging questions. How can the dual requirements of superior quality and continuing cost reduction over time best be satisfied? Is the chosen contract manufacturer as concerned about regulatory requirements as my company? If I source offshore will our company’s intellectual property (IP) be adequately protected? If tooling costs drive single-sourcing, how can I ensure the supplier will work on the cost reduction we need over time? Will our product development team be able to communicate with an offshore supplier’s team? How much time will my team need to spend at an offshore contract manufacturer to get a project started?
The answer to those questions can vary widely by supplier. Forefront Medical Technology, a specialty contract manufacturer with a focus in disposable diagnostic, drug infusion and medical device systems, sees its mission as serving as an extension of its customers’ product development teams. The Company focuses on driving cost out of products through a combination of efficient design and manufacturing processes plus robust project management processes. Additionally, vertically integrated prototyping and tooling fabrication capabilities, strategic use of lower cost labor markets and optimized logistics further eliminate non-value added cost.
Outsourcing production of medical disposable devices and systems can be a complex process. Sourcing teams are faced with challenging questions. How can the dual requirements of superior quality and continuing cost reduction over time best be satisfied? Is the chosen contract manufacturer as concerned about regulatory requirements as my company? If I source offshore will our company’s intellectual property (IP) be adequately protected? If tooling costs drive single-sourcing, how can I ensure the supplier will work on the cost reduction we need over time? Will our product development team be able to communicate with an offshore supplier’s team? How much time will my team need to spend at an offshore contract manufacturer to get a project started?
The answer to those questions can vary widely by supplier. Forefront Medical Technology, a specialty contract manufacturer with a focus in disposable diagnostic, drug infusion and medical device systems, sees its mission as serving as an extension of its customers’ product development teams. The Company focuses on driving cost out of products through a combination of efficient design and manufacturing processes plus robust project management processes. Additionally, vertically integrated prototyping and tooling fabrication capabilities, strategic use of lower cost labor markets and optimized logistics further eliminate non-value added cost.