Pro-dex

February 2012

• News from AAOS - 30,000 Ortho Pros meet in San Fran
  

  AAOS … A San Francisco Treat! Between February 6th and February 11th, more than 30,000 orthopedic industry professionals from around the globe will descend on the city of San Francisco for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) 79th annual meeting.

  Posted: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 By: Prodex
• Pitcher Jim Abbott Speaks on Teamwork at Pro-Dex/ODT AAOS dinner Feb. 7th
  

  Winning Strategies for Medical Technology Success With significant uncertainty and challenges facing the medical and healthcare industry, Pro-Dex, Inc., in partnership with Orthopedic Design & Technology Magazine, selected to host an invitation only dinner with Jim Abbott for medical device executives at this year’s American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon’s (AAOS) annual meeting.

  Posted: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 By: Prodex
• AAOS, medical community brings safe play to San Francisco
  

  Playing It Safe at AAOS The day began bright and early at 7:30am. Though there was a slight drizzle, the line of volunteers for the shuttle bus to the 13th AAOS Safe and Accessible Playground Build was long and full of energy.

  Posted: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 By: Prodex
• Jim Abbott Brings Inspiration, Team Spirit to AAOS
  

  Jim Abbott Brings Inspiration, Team Spirit to AAOS When reflecting back on AAOS 2012, some attendees will fondly recall the Pro-Dex, Inc./ODT magazine (Orthopedic Design Technology) dinner at Morton’s steakhouse with Major League baseball player, Jim Abbott.

  Posted: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 By: Prodex

January 2012

• Pro-Dex Year in Review
  

  A new, prominent role for medical device contract manufacturing in 2012. Albert Einstein said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Perhaps this reasoning is why both the 2010 and 2011 Ernst & Young medical technology annual reports reiterate that, in order for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to stay competitive and effectively address the business perils facing their industry, they need to: 1) Refocus their energies and resources on cultivating non-traditional strategic partnerships (e.g. with pharmaceuticals, information technology, insurance, etc.) and 2) Augment their service offerings.

  Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012 By: Prodex

December 2011

• Negotiating MPO Agreements
  

  Pros and cons to the contract manufacturing agreement process Byline: Joe Rotino Who’s responsible for device problems if things go wrong? Is it the OEM? The supplier? If a supplier puts a $.05 part in a $1,000 device, and that $1,000 device causes harm, should the onus fall on the supplier? Answers to these tough questions were attempted at the “Negotiating Medical Product Outsourcing Agreements” panel at AdvaMed 2011. But not all were satisfied with the answers. Here are some highlights and lowlights …

  Posted: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 By: Prodex

October 2011

• Emerging Trends At AdvaMed 2011 - Healthcare Reform
  

  To say that there’ve been sleepless nights over The Affordable Care Act of 2010 would probably be the understatement of the year. Something that complex and expansive has left many expressing—sometimes vehemently—concern over what it will mean for medical device innovation, quality, and profitability. Four panelists at AdvaMed 2011(Caroll Neubauer of B.Braun Medical, Inc., John Bishop of Cepheid, Michael Mussallem of Edward Lifesciences Corporation, and Patrick Morrisey of King & Spaulding) weighed in on what health care reform looks like one year later—and what aspects keep them up at night.

  Posted: Thursday, October 06, 2011 By: Prodex
• Medtech 3.0: Paradigm Shifts in the MedTech Business Model
  

  Innovation is alive and well at this year’s AdvaMed conference. While it’s clear that medical device innovation in the U.S. has taken a hit, there’s important advancement happening around the development of new business models. The next evolution of the medical technology industry—MedTech 3.0—focuses on collaborative, non-traditional partnerships and a changing customer base.

  Posted: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 By: Prodex
• CEO's Unplugged: Tech and Regulatory
  

  Solution-focused approach key to FDA-MedTech future You’d expect there to be finger pointing and an undertone of hostility at a “CEO’s Unplugged” panel at AdvaMed 2011—especially on the topic of technology and regulation. But instead of talking about what’s not working and what’s not happening, the CEO panelists used the opportunity to tone down the rhetoric and acknowledge what is working.

  Posted: Thursday, October 20, 2011 By: Prodex
• Uncertainty in MedTech
  

  One thing’s for certain: There’s a lot of uncertainty in today’s MedTech industry Byline: Tricia Rodewald “Uncertainty” is a main theme coming out of this year’s AdvaMed convention. Uncertainty about 510(k) process reforms. Uncertainty about FDA and healthcare reform. Uncertainty about the future of medical device innovation.

  Posted: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 By: Prodex

September 2010

• Avoiding Finger Pointing in Manufacturing Relationships
  

  A strong business relationship thrives on open communication. For the relationship between a supplier and a medical device customer to have a chance at long-term success, the supplier must communicate openly and honestly with the device manufacturer from the moment they hand over the proverbial napkin sketch....

  Posted: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 By: Prodex
• New Manufacturing Supplier Controls: How Do You Stack Up?
  

  As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and international regulatory bodies have moved their focus to supplier controls as a key element of medical device compliance.

  Posted: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 By: Prodex
• Synergy and Manufaturing Efficiencies: Little Things Make Big Things Happen (or 1 + 1 = 3)
  

  To be competitive in medical device manufacturing, a company needs to run an efficient operation. Many companies talk about a core competency or a new process or technology developed that differentiates them from their competition. However, as John Wooden (famed Basketball Hall of Fame-inducted coach of the University of California, Los Angeles) said, “It's the little details...

  Posted: Thursday, September 16, 2010 By: Prodex
• Concurrent Engineering Concept Speeds Device Development and Time to Market
  

  The supervisor has called a meeting. After everyone trickles into the conference room, trades small talk about last night’s ballgame and the kids’ school projects, fills their coffee mugs from the pot on the table, and settles into their seats, the supervisor looks up from his PowerPoint presentation and finally speaks to his subordinates. “We’re going to meet all day - every day...

  Posted: Thursday, September 16, 2010 By: Prodex
• Strategic Alliances: Simple Method for Creating Growth without Increasing Resources
  

  In today's challenging economy, many medical device manufacturers and suppliers are looking for additional paths to business growth. One of the more effective methods, while conserving marketing and development funds, is to consider forming strategic alliances. Not to be confused with mergers or acquisitions, a strategic alliance...

  Posted: Thursday, September 30, 2010 By: Prodex