A Medical Device Manufacturer’s Guide to Selecting Suppliers

A vast majority of businesses contract suppliers to provide goods and services to supplement their internal resources. The types of goods and services vary widely, and for a medical company may include purchasing standard components, the design and manufacture of custom components, regulatory advice and submissions, and clinical study protocols and execution. Using suppliers is an excellent way to gain access to skills, technology and other resources that aren’t available internally.

However, using suppliers may also waste time and effort on the part of the company and the supplier.

After working with suppliers and being a supplier, Maren Nelson has learned some key factors to consider at the beginning of a relationship that can help to achieve desired results. Rushing to start a project often causes these key steps to be overlooked or set aside for later.

This whitepaper covers:

• When to consider using suppliers
• Key differences between standard / OTS and custom part suppliers
• Tools and methods for managing suppliers
• When and how to transition between suppliers and internal resources

If you are considering using suppliers or are already using them — for goods and/or services — you won’t want to miss Maren’s presentation on best practices for supplier relationships.