The Medtech Supply Chain and COVID-19

Virtually all companies are finding themselves with decisions to make as they attempt to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. Everyone is trying to keep employees as safe as possible during this time by implementing CDC recommendations, such as social distancing, hand washing, and working from home where possible. MPO dug past these messages to find out how companies were addressing the situation from an operational standpoint; what these companies were doing specifically to maintain as close to a degree of normalcy for customers as possible. Following is a list of suppliers we’ve heard from and the details of what they are doing beyond the norm.

Advanced Circuits: All three manufacturing facilities at full operation
Andercraft Manufacturing: Producing custom molded respiratory and ventilator supplies with available capacity in cleanrooms
The Arthur G. Russell Co. Inc.: Maintaining business continuity and trying to avoid any potential disruption to operations and supplies/services provided
Bishop Wisecarver: Ecommerce site is up and running; distributers have inventory on hand; normal lead times may be impacted by shelter-in-place order
BMP Medical: Increased shifts to meet customer demand
BMZ Group: Increasing production of Li-Ion batteries for medical technology
Boyd Technologies: Supporting hospitals and commercial partners directly with surgical masks, N95 respirators, nasal swabs, and point of care diagnostics
Cadence: Increased production capacity of products used in leading diagnostic lab testing products, like IVD probes, point-of-care testing, and drug delivery devices
Chamfr: Created Chamfr Connect to more effectively connect those who have a need with suppliers who have capabilities that can help
ClearMetal: Continuous Delivery Experience free of charge to companies shipping needed healthcare and medical supplies to combat COVID-19
DELMIAWORKS (IQMS): Nearly every team member is in a "work from home" position
Diversified Plastics: Increased capacity of its Acceleration Station to meet fast-turn manufacturing demand in support of COVID-19 response
Eagle Medical Packaging and Sterilization: Fully operational; monitoring incoming packages from foreign countries
Eagle Stainless Tube & Fabrication: Operating normal business hours
Element Materials Technology: Testing locations are fully operational; continuously monitoring employee safety and local regulations
Florida Anodize System & Technologies (FAST): Providing expedited servicing for critical medical device component anodizing
Forécreu Biométal: Ensuring a continued flow of product to customers
Futek: Implemented shifts that run 24-hours, 7-days a week; established a dedicated crisis management team and have a crisis management protocol in place
Generis Knowledge Management: Making the CARA Platform available for free to companies globally who are manufacturing and providing ventilators
GEON Performance Solutions: PROJECT COLLABORATION provides expertise to help small/medium-sized companies get virus-related products to market at no cost
Gilero: Developing designs for improvised face shields and simple facemasks; developing and manufacturing reusable respirators and goggles; developing an emergency ventilator
Graham Engineering: Reorganized work environment to mitigate risk; expanded systems capabilities to accommodate changing work climate
Herrmann Ultrasonics: Open and operating but with reduced internal staff; working diligently to get orders out as quickly as possible
Intertek: Implemented "First-in-Queue Priority" for testing of devices critical to addressing COVID-19
Interplex: Operational plans may be adjusted due to local/regional government orders which may cause temporary closure of some manufacturing facilities; website maintains current status of all facilities
IRP: Staffed at 100% and running 24/7
Kadant: 20 manufacturing locations around the globe are fully operational, including three in China
Knobbe Martens: Keeping updated on information that may impact matters before the courts, the USPTO, and international patent, trademark and copyright authorities
LPS Industries: Monitoring raw material inventory and production on a daily basis
Maetrics: Teams are able to offer remote support in all aspects of the firm's service offerings
Micro Mold: Running at full operation
Microspec: No disruptions with material supplies or supply chain network; restarting 3rd shift, which had been temporarily shut down, adding capacity to operations
Midwest Products & Engineering: Increasing production of off-the-shelf preconfigured medical carts for ventilators
Nelson Labs: Minor cosmetic damage from earthquake; employing a rotating shift schedule with divided teams
Parker: Addressing ongoing needs of business to be able to continue to provide vital technologies
Peridot: Continues to operate and produce product at full capacity
Plastikos/Plastikos Medical: Operating 24/7 with full staff
Posifa Technologies: Continuing to ship production quantities of mass air flow sensors—a key component for ventilators
ProPlate: Intends to remain open for business
Qosina: ISO 22301 business continuity management system activated; operating on regular delivery schedules
Rapidwerks: Up and running at 100 percent
RRC power solutions GmbH: Ready-to-use power package for ventilators
Sensirion: All deliveries completed on schedule so far
Spectrum Plastics Group: All 17 facilities are operational
SteriPack: Four fully operating facilities with cleanroom space in Ireland, Poland, USA, and Malaysia with medical device packing/kitting/molding/assembly capability
Steri-Tek: Running full operations
Sterigenics: Continue to operate 24/7 to support the sterilization of essential supplies needed to address the coronavirus crisis
Toxikon: Customers may notice report delays
West Pharmaceutical Services: Maintaining business continuity; producing injection molded parts to support diagnostic testing; developing millions of seals and elastomer components to support COVID-19 efforts
WESTPAK: Essential test services continue
 
If you’re a supplier and would like to share what you’re doing through this list, reach out to me at sfenske@rodmanmedia.com with the details.