Ethicon Reduces Cost of Medical Device by 63%. Here's How: Fewer parts, new joining techniques and smarter part design add up to big cost savings

摘要

WITH ALL THEIR REGULATORY AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS, MEDICAL devices don't always lend themselves to aggressive cost reduction. At least, not without some extra design effort. "The medical guys are pushing the envelope right now and coming up with designs that deliver the maximum function for a minimum cost," says Mike Stoddard, a Phillips Plastics project manager responsible for medical molding. One such design comes from the engineers at Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon division. They managed to take a significant amount of cost out of an applicator gun used for the company's Gynecare Profix surgical fasteners.