A strong network of a supply chain is the most crucial asset for the Medical Device Manufacturer. Often, the cost of manufacturing is lesser than the cost of shipping which makes it important to carefully choose a manufacturer with an effective supply chain. Several key factors that one must keep in mind while choosing a contract manufacturer are:
Pre-planning & Inventory Management
A contract manufacturer must pre-plan the requirements according to BOM. During COVID-19, there were times when manufacturing went completely halt due to a crisis of components. In those times, manufacturers realized the importance of Pre-planning.
Managing component obsolescence
An experienced contract manufacturer must keep the engineers and designers oriented about the obsolescence of the components. The components, in general, are classified as NRND(Not recommended for New Designs) and OBS (Obsolete Components).
Supply Chain Transparency
Supply Chain Transparency is an important aspect to keep things running smoothly. Any change in vendor, cost, or material must be communicated transparently to the client. Latent details can create a major loophole in the process and make things messy at the later stage.
Vendor & Logistics Network
An experienced contract manufacturer usually has a global vendor network and logistics to enable smooth manufacturing. In times of crisis like COVID-19, a strong vendor network is all you need to keep things going.
Strict compliance with Regulatory Norms
A contract manufacturer must always comply with geography-specific regulations. Strict compliance to regulatory norms is important to optimize the time to market and ensure timely delivery of the products.
Automation
Automation is another major factor to look out for in the Medical Device Manufacturing process. Automated and controlled warehousing ensures safe and timely delivery at both the manufacturing end and the customer's end. The automation helps in keeping track of the time, temperature, and inventory. A manufacturer having automated warehousing and inventory can easily manage the process.
Conclusively, a Manufacturer with a well networked, strong supply chain can be trusted for different supply chain requirements.
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