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The trend of outsourcing
production to electronic manufacturing service (EMS) providers is becoming
increasingly prevalent among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of medical
devices in North America as they look for ways to cut capital costs and reduce
the time-to-market for new products. Medical OEMs are looking at handing over
the complete manufacturing process of medical devices to EMS providers so that
they can focus on core business functions such as new product development and
marketing. At the same time, EMS providers are expanding beyond mere assembly
manufacturing for OEMs and are structuring their services to include the design
and engineering aspects of the production process. They now offer product
design, prototype building, testing, and repair and warranty services.
"While assembly manufacturing
earlier formed the core of an EMS provider’s business, key concepts such as
design and engineering are being implemented as well," notes the analyst of this
research service. "The "design for" concept - which includes design for
assembly, testing, manufacturability, and design for supply chain - is very
viable and important to increase value for an OEM." EMS providers are also
focusing on becoming more compliant with the many regulations that govern the
medical EMS market so that they can offer more manufacturing services and
solutions to OEMs. Most of the leading EMS providers have ensured that their
manufacturing facilities have been established in compliance with regulations
such as ISO 13485 and the stringent guidelines set by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).
Strong Growth in the Medical
Device Market Indicates Good Opportunities for EMS Providers
"The average age of the
population in the United States is increasing and there are an estimated 78.2
million baby boomers in the country," says the analyst. "This is expected to
have a strong impact on the medical device market and greatly increase
outsourcing opportunities for EMS providers." Growing incidences of heart and
respiratory disease will provide opportunities for increased production of
cardiovascular and respiratory devices. Minimally invasive surgery and the
emerging neurostimulation segment are also likely to play an important role in
generating more outsourcing opportunities for EMS providers. Other high-growth
areas include therapeutic devices, endoscopy, infusion systems, diagnostic and
monitoring equipment, audiology, and instrumentation devices.
With product innovation and
technological advancement constantly taking place in the medical device market,
EMS providers will have to keep pace with trends such as wireless capability for
hospitals and remote patient monitoring. Incorporating these advancements in
medical devices will give EMS providers an opportunity to provide the best
possible solutions for medical OEMs. Since the industry is highly regulated by
bodies such as the FDA, regulatory compliance is also imperative. However, these
governing bodies are likely to become less stringent once manufacturing
technology stabilizes.
For more information visit
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c61754
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