Achieving paperless manufacturing empowers small to medium sized medical device manufactures compete with larger companies through machine automation and integration.

With the arrival of MedTech 4.0, or the medical industries’ industrial revolution, small and mid-sized medical device manufacturing companies are better situated to compete against large companies than ever before. Paperless manufacturing is helping companies streamline operations through the elimination of outdated processes and access to better data.

With increasing regulation and scrutiny from government regulators (to ensure errors are limited), it seems that the larger organizations with more resources would have an advantage to pull away. However, there is one equalizer: Technology. Creating and implementing a well-designed technology stack that compliments best-in-industry tools levels the playing field in the medical device manufacturing industry.  

Achieving a truly paperless manufacturing process comes from a complete digitalization of the entire medical device manufacturing process and record keeping. Designing a world-class Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and enabling communication between PLM and ERP enables data sharing between the front office and manufacturing floor. Information sharing between business units enables better and faster decision making helping to improve the effectiveness of the entire process.

What are the main benefits of Paperless Manufacturing?

Paperless Manufacturing has a profound influence on the effectiveness of a medical device manufacturing process moving companies towards higher profits and expanded output all while adopting new regulation as fast as possible. But more specifically, some of the main benefits include:

  • Visibility through integration to eliminate redundant and manual processes
  • Data sharing between business units, locations and software programs
  • Uncover and pinpoint correct quality issues before they become costly of affect customer experience
  • Reduce the likelihood of errors
  • Minimize bottlenecks to reduce downtime
  • Clear information leads to better data

Achieving a paperless manufacturing process has many benefits that are highly correlated with important business metrics. Reducing downtime and bottlenecks (while reducing errors) keeps operations moving for expanded output without the fear of increased error. Using the right software programs (implemented the right way, in the right process) allow for a best-of-both-worlds scenario: better output, lower chance of error.

With the rise of MedTech 4.0 accurate and timely data will be more important than ever before in driving businesses and manufacturing processes forward. Organizations that invest upfront will have the ability to scale their manufacturing processes in an effective manner that will empower them to compete with larger companies despite having less resources.

If you’re interested in a discussion around achieving a paperless manufacturing process that can improve any small to medium sized medical device manufacturing proce