Selecting the Fast Path in Diagnostics Manufacturing Without Sacrificing Performance

Before the advent of COVID-19, medical professionals reported running over 2 billion rapid diagnostic tests globally per year. Even in the pre-COVID era, the need to have speed to market in manufacturing with each new diagnostic technology was essential for diagnostic supply companies to ensure market share and supply chain continuity.

With the advent of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, public health officials anticipate the need for as many as 300 million tests per month in each the US and EU, increasing demand for diagnostic tests by a factor of ten over the coming years. With such demands, launching new technologies and products is even more urgent. The need for speed in manufacturing launch and efficiency with robust processing in production are critical components in bringing diagnostic tests, whether for COVID-19 or other health conditions, to market promptly and meet the supply chain demands. While most product launches use new, novel or updated technologies with unique configurations, the key aspects of manufacturing remain the same.

Speed to manufacturing launch is key for market share. Speed and efficiency, once in production, are key for supply and continued inventory. However, merely going fast does not mean just using faster equipment or getting the right supplier. We will discuss how design, manufacturing strategy, and key technology partners are the cornerstone of achieving accelerated launch of diagnostic products and maintaining the production efficiency, quality and delivery that the market both needs and desires.

Speaker

David Wolgemuth, Molding & Manufacturing Technology Specialist, Phillips-Medisize, a Molex company

With over 30 years of experience in medical and commercial application manufacturing, David Wolgemuth has been vital in providing conceptualization, strategy and creativity for novel and unique solutions, in addition to establishing feasibility and initial launch support.

With a bachelor’s in chemistry and plastics engineering from Illinois State University, he has the background to understand both theory for polymer processing and practical applications, solutions, and technology. The additional hands-on experience has expanded into general manufacturing, assembly, and automation.

Rapid device transformation from design concept to a manufacturable solution and initial launch activities has been a cornerstone to Phillips-Medisize successful support of customer applications. Wolgemuth is one of the critical team members that make this possible for the more challenging design approaches.

Wolgemuth works with customers, applications and business development managers at the initial stage of new programs, ensuring the optimum designs, materials, tool technology and manufacturing technology to fit the necessary solution for price, quality and delivery.

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