How to Choose the Right Manufacturing Partner to Support Your Growth and Innovation 

In 1978, Tom Dambach, a visionary Chief Engineer at Marquette Electronics, founded MPE Inc. as a precision metal fabricator dedicated to serving the medical and electrical sectors in Wisconsin.  

Little did he know that this modest start-up would evolve into a unique capital medical equipment commercialization platform, impacting the MedTech industry on a global scale. From our beginnings in crafting precision metal fab parts, to developing mobility solutions for leading MedTech OEMs; we’ve witnessed firsthand the vital role that manufacturing plays in the success of medical devices. 

We understand that choosing the right manufacturing partner is not just a logistical decision; it’s a strategic one that can significantly influence your growth trajectory and capacity for innovation. 

Based on our experience and expertise, here are the top three factors to consider when choosing your manufacturing partner. 

1. Experience and Expertise in MedTech  

Choosing a manufacturing partner with a proven track record in MedTech manufacturing is essential for finding solutions that can seamlessly adapt to changing market demands.  

An experienced MedTech manufacturing partner can significantly help you minimize potential rework. They should be adept at identifying design flaws that could hinder manufacturability early in the process. By integrating their manufacturing expertise into discussions from the onset, they can fine-tune your device’s design, ensuring it can be produced efficiently and effectively—thus avoiding the costly expenses associated with extensive rework. 

Additionally, your partner should be capable of accommodating a range of production volumes—from low to high—allowing you to meet market demand without disruption. This adaptability is often overlooked when selecting a manufacturing partner, but it is vital for ensuring that you can meet demand without issues. A true partner should be able to help you bring products to market quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively—no matter what the demand looks like. 

Investing in an experienced partner reduces operational costs, accelerates time to market, and enhances product quality. This, in turn, leads to increased customer satisfaction and market share, creating a virtuous cycle of growth that strengthens your bottom line. 

In the end, the right manufacturing partner not only supports your immediate needs but also serves as a strategic asset that helps you cut down costs, while driving innovation and maintaining high standards. 

2. Quality and Sustainability Awareness 

Selecting the right medical device manufacturer involves more than just assessing their technical capabilities; it requires a thorough evaluation of their established quality and sustainability plans that are focused on staying proactive.  

A manufacturer with a detailed quality management system ensures that every aspect of production adheres to industry standards, globally. With initiatives like the FDA Modernization Act, Global Harmonization Efforts, and the EU’s PPWR taking full effect, the right partner needs to know how to manage and adapt to these needs.  

And, how to make sure that your device’s quality and compliance plans are aligned. In doing so, you’ll know that your device is poised for successful growth and innovative advancements.  

Your manufacturing partner should also have a quality plan that incorporates continuous improvement processes. This addition will not only help your current device, but also create a solid foundation for your next-gen development efforts. These additions enable you and your manufacturing partner to consistently deliver high-quality products that meet or exceed client expectations. 

By partnering with a manufacturer that prioritizes both quality and sustainability early on and into every aspect of your device life cycle, you’re positioned for long-term success in a competitive market, ensuring their devices are not only effective but also responsibly produced. 

3. Collaboration At Its Core 

Although it may sound extreme, choosing the right manufacturing partner will make or break your device’s success in the market. You can have a great design, but, without manufacturing, your idea will remain just that. An idea.  

And without collaboration across all aspects of your organization, including your manufacturing partner, the likelihood of bottlenecks and issues arising is a risk better avoided. A capable manufacturing partner should not only possess the technical expertise to navigate the complex nature of manufacturing medical devices, without any disruptions in your manufacturing plans, but they should also do so in a way that create open lines of communication.  

The right partner should have a dedicated team on your project that owns your inventory management, supply chain, and continuous improvement efforts— acting as a true extension of your team.  

To some, this idea may seem obvious, but legacy siloed operations are inherently transactional and one-tracked. These legacy relationship dynamics create silos and block off lines of communication that are essential to effective operations.  

When searching for the ideal manufacturer, prioritize those who can act as true team members rather than just suppliers. Establishing a framework of transparency, trust, and shared accountability can prevent disruptions in delivering your finished goods to end users.  

Such a partnership not only fosters reliability but can also lead to a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) for your devices. By collaborating across all channels and integrating all areas of your operations, you’ll be more likely to generate innovative ideas and solutions for reducing costs. 

By choosing a collaborative relationship and establishing clear agreements that prioritize open communication, you significantly mitigate the risk of encountering panicked situations often associated with outdated transactional methods.   

Overall, choosing the right manufacturing partner is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly.  

Who you choose to collaborate with, and make a part of your team, can significantly impact your growth and innovation in the MedTech industry. Their ability to efficiently scale production and provide you with their support and expertise early on will help you bring your devices to market swiftly and successfully. 

Remember that the right partner will not just support your vision—they’ll help you achieve it. If you’re interested in seeing what this kind of partner looks like in action, contact us today.