Standardizing Access Devices to Avoid Medical Equipment Supply Chain Interruption

Manufacturers of critical care medical Equipment, particularly ventilators and other life-support Equipment, were confronted with a demand considerably bigger than they had ever anticipated when the COVID epidemic broke out.

The impact was worldwide, widespread, and had a two-fold effect on their capacity to satisfy demand. First, considerable increases in demand necessitated extensive reworking of production schedules and procedures, much as COVID-related constraints required many factories and engineering staffs to shut down or severely reduce the number of people working in facilities.

Manufacturers and Equipment assemblers changed production floors, create barriers, and apply social distancing norms, besides adopting protective Equipment measures to contain further virus spread.Second, many medical device providers were unable to complete orders due to the sudden shutdown of global “just-in-time” supply chains, which were built around highly predictable demand scenarios for a wide range of common components such as touchscreens, electronic components, mobile devices, and secure locking mechanisms.

While the COVID epidemic was unique, it provided a chance for medical device makers to reconsider their approaches to Equipment design, production, and component supply chains. The flaws in this tangled web of component suppliers highlight the need for a more secure approach to medical device design and manufacturing.Other manufacturing segments, such as automotive, can teach the sector about the need for uniformity in system design and production philosophy. This technique allows for the standardization of critical mechanisms across many platforms, resulting in a more efficient production process from design to procurement.