Automation Trends Shaping the Next Generation of Medical Device Manufacturing
A Conversation on Automation, Complexity, and What OEMs Need Next
Medical device manufacturing is entering a new era of complexity. Devices are getting smaller and more sophisticated, catheter designs are becoming increasingly intricate, and manufacturers are being asked to achieve tighter tolerances while simultaneously improving throughput, consistency and scalability.
For OEMs, these trends are changing what they need from their manufacturing partners.
We sat down with automation experts Dave McMorrow and Michael Wall to discuss the trends shaping catheter and medical device manufacturing, what OEMs are asking for today, and how advances in automation, tooling and manufacturing technology are helping solve increasingly complex production challenges.
What are some of the biggest trends you’re seeing in medical device manufacturing automation today?
Michael Wall: Rather than viewing automation simply as a way to increase production speed, manufacturers are looking at how it can improve consistency, reduce manual processes, address labor constraints and create more predictable manufacturing environments.
Another important trend is the desire to consolidate manufacturing processes. OEMs increasingly want partners capable of supporting multiple stages of production rather than coordinating numerous individual suppliers.
The result is a shift toward more integrated manufacturing strategies where equipment, processes and automation are designed to work together.
What are OEMS asking for today?
Dave McMorrow: OEMs are looking for solutions to several challenges simultaneously. They need greater manufacturing efficiency, but they also need flexibility without sacrificing throughput. They want to automate processes, but the automation needs to accommodate increasingly sophisticated device designs.
Many conversations therefore begin with questions such as:
- How can we increase throughput?
- Where can we eliminate repetitive manual operations?
- How can we improve process consistency?
- How can we reduce operator dependency?
- How do we transition a process from development into scalable production?
- Can multiple manufacturing steps be integrated into one automated workflow?
The discussion simply isn’t about purchasing an individual machine. It’s about understanding the entire manufacturing process and identifying where technology can have the greatest impact.
The bigger question isn’t simply what technologies OEMs will need tomorrow – it’s what they’ll need their manufacturing partners to make possible. Can you speak to this?
MW: The next generation of medical devices will likely require manufacturing systems that are even more connected and scalable.
As device designs evolve, manufacturers will need equipment capable of adapting to new product configurations and production requirements. That means automation strategies need to consider not only today’s production challenge, but also what happens when volumes increase or product designs change.
The best manufacturing solution isn’t necessarily the one that solves a single operation. It’s the one that helps create a production platform capable of evolving with the device.
FEATURED TECHNOLOGY: Wire Feeding Automation
What should OEMs look for in an automation partner?
DM: Choosing the right automation partner is about more than finding a company that can build a machine. OEMs should look for a partner that takes the time to understand their product, manufacturing process, challenges and longer-term goals.
A well-aligned automation partner should be asking questions from the start. Where are the bottlenecks? Where is there too much variability? What processes are creating quality issues or requiring too much manual intervention? And just as importantly, where does automation actually make sense?
The goal shouldn’t be to automate everything. It should be to automate the right things in a way that improves consistency, quality and throughput while giving the manufacturer room to grow.
More importantly, what questions should OEMs ask potential automation partners?
MW: When evaluating an automation partner, some of the most important questions include:
- Have you automated a process like ours before, and how would you improve it? Look for relevant medical device manufacturing experience and a partner who can identify opportunities to optimize the process—not simply build to a specification.
- What should we automate—and what shouldn’t we? Not every manual process needs to be automated. A strong partner should help identify where automation will deliver the greatest value in quality, throughput, consistency and labor utilization.
- How will the system support quality, validation and process visibility? Ask how vision, inspection, sensors, process controls and data collection will support quality, traceability and validation requirements, including IQ/OQ/PQ.
- Can the system adapt and grow with us? Consider whether the equipment can accommodate product changes, additional SKUs, new tooling and processes, or increased production requirements without requiring an entirely new system.
- What does support and success look like after installation? Understand the partner’s approach to training, service, spare parts, troubleshooting and ongoing technical support—and how they will measure the system’s long-term impact on your manufacturing operation.
FEATURED TECHNOLOGY: Automated Tube Feeding, Cutting, and Drilling
One of the best questions OEMs can ask is simply, “If this were your manufacturing process, what would you differently?”
DM: The answer can tell you a lot about the partner you’re considering. The right automation company shouldn’t just take an existing process and put a machine around it. They should bring ideas to the table, challenge assumptions when necessary, and help identify a better way to manufacture the product.
Ultimately, OEMs should look for a partner that approaches automation as a manufacturing challenge to solve—not just a piece of equipment to build.
FEATURED TECHNOLOGY: Catheter Production Automation
ABOUT MMT AUTOMATION
MMT Automation delivers custom, integrated automation solutions designed to solve complex medical device manufacturing challenges. From feeding, assembly and processing to vision inspection and quality control, MMT combines deep process expertise with advanced automation technologies to improve throughput, consistency and scalability while reducing manual intervention.
To learn more, or for a personalized consultation, get in touch with us today: https://mmt-inc.com/contact-us/. Let’s build something together!
Medical Manufacturing Technologies (MMT) is a vertically integrated business serving the medical device manufacturing industry and beyond. The company offers process development, applications and equipment, technical solutions, and aftermarket support. MMT brands include Cathtip, Comco, Engineering by Design, FEPeeler, GenX Medical, Glebar, Innova, Interface Catheter Solutions, MMT Automation, MPT Europe, R&D Engineering, SYNEO, Somex Automation, and Tridex Technologies.
