 |
by Joe Jancsurak, Editor
Last month’s online poll asked readers to indicate whether their
companies are applying lean manufacturing tools and methods. The results
show that while the majority (79%) is practicing lean manufacturing, a
significant portion (21%) is not. This could prove damaging as the
current recession is as good a time as any for all companies to wring
out waste from the manufacturing process. Those manufacturers who do
are more likely to thrive.
For more on lean resources, I recommend contacting either, or both,
Lean Enterprise Institute, and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ Lean
Manufacturing Enterprise Technology Group.
Reader
Poll This month’s question asks if your company is applying
Six Sigma tools and methods. Please take a moment to provide us with
your answer. In return, you’ll get instant poll results that reflect
your input, and we will report the final results next month.
Stay tuned.
|
A medical device manufacturer recently received discouraging feedback
from surgeons—the screw and small nut used in the hinge mechanism of
the company’s surgical scissors, although secure and reliable, was
either too loose or too tight to allow pinpoint operation accuracy
making the scissor difficult to control.
Full Article
|
|
Apple Rubber offers expanded line of
medical-grade
elastomer seals and O-rings.
 In addition to popular
Silicone, Apple Rubber now offers custom O-rings and seals made from
medical-grade elastomers such as Viton® fluoroelastomer (FKM) and
EPDM rubber. Ideal for medical applications, such elastomers feature
improved chemical resistors, excellent heat resistance
(400°F/200°C), and low permeability to gases. Capabilities at
Apple Rubber include complete engineering support, manufacturing,
quality assurance and a Class 10,000 ISO Class 7, certified
cleanroom.
|
|
Researchers have designed a lab-on-a-chip capable of being programmed to
perform a variety of jobs, a step toward more widespread use of the
miniature analytical tools used to measure everything from blood glucose
to viruses, bacteria to genes.
Full Article
|
Finland-based Optinova has installed “in
line” leak detection equipment into their production process for
catheter tube manufacturing. The thin wall tubing is used for nutrition
and blood transfusion delivery systems. Optinova teamed with Adixen
Scandinavia (Alcatel), a specialist leak detection
company based in Sweden, to assist them with developing a system to
identify pinholes in the tubing while being formed.
Full Article
|
CardioChek Link software and CardioChek PA
point-of-care instrument by Polymer Technology Systems Inc,
Indianapolis, lets users transmit cholesterol and other test results
directly from the instrument to a personal computer.
Full Article
|
Capacitive Touch Evaluation Kit by Microchip Technology,
Chandler, AZ, lets designers develop capacitive touch user-interface
applications using Microchip’s 8- and 16-bit PIC® microcontrollers
(MCUs).
Full Article
|
Adsorbent filter by W.L. Gore & Associates, Newark, DE, provides
an integrated filtration solution that simplifies medical-device
manufacturing without compromising product performance.
Full Article
|
Boker's Free 2009 Washer Catalog
Boker's 2009 Washer Catalog has over 23,000 non-standard sizes with
outside diameters of 0.080" to 5.140", numerous IDs and thicknesses and
2,000 material variations. ISO 9001:2000 Registered
www.bokers.com/mee
Protomold
Turn your 3D CAD model into real plastic parts in one business day!
Visit www.protomold.com for information and a free automated
ProtoQuote®.
www.protomold.com
First Cut
CNC machined parts in 1-3 business days. Get parts with better material
properties, surface finishes and dimensional properties than additive
rapid prototypes. Visit www.firstcut.com
RedEye On Demand delivers the entire digital manufacturing experience, from
prototypes, to fixture and assembly tools, to low volume production.
Get a free on-line quote at redeyeondemand.com
|
|
|
Thank you for reading the Medical Edge newsletter from Medical
Design.
This email was sent to #email#. You've received this e-newsletter for
one of two reasons:
1) You signed up for it on one of our web sites.
2) You are a reader of Medical Design magazine.
Manage Your Subscription
To quickly unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here Unsubscribe
To subscribe to this newsletter, visit our
subscription page.
To CHANGE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, visit our subscription page,
login with your old email address, then change your address.
Contact Information
Editorial questions:
Joe Jancsurak
216-931-9822
Advertising/sponsorship opportunities: Virginia Goulding
216-931-9893
Medical Design
1300 E. 9th St.
Cleveland, OH 44114
©2009 Penton Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
|
