Many consumers assume that a medical device or a surgical instrument used in a medical procedure is actually produced by the company of name on the device. In fact, many professionals in the medical field may also make this assumption.
The reality is that medical devices and surgical equipment require very specialized and precise type of manufacturing. This is often beyond the scope of what an in-house fabrication or manufacturing department would be able to provide. To be able to produce the equipment and devices to the specifications required companies turn to specialized surgical instrument manufacturers.
When selecting a precision machining company, it is important to ask several questions before making a final decision. Not rushing through this interviewing and assessment component of choosing from the best surgical instrument manufacturers will guarantee quality control, consistent products and the security of knowing your project is in the best possible hands.
Experience in the Surgical Instrument Field
Machining shops and companies may market themselves as surgical instrument manufacturers even if they have limited to no experience in the field. Asking for a list of references and past projects completed is one of the first questions that should be on the list.
Some of the top machining companies provide extensive and comprehensive galleries of projects or case studies on their website. These can provide insight into what you can expect, but it is still important to ensure you are very clear on their experience and they have references to back this up.
Equipment and Staffing
You don’t have to be an expert in machining equipment and technology to be able to compare the equipment between different shops offering this service. Some companies make it very easy for your team as they provide a complete list of capabilities and equipment on their website or as requested.
The type of equipment is important for quality control and speed of production. This is also the same for having experienced, expert operators on hand during production to not only ensure the lines keep moving but also to ensure quality control.
That is also an important consideration. For more surgical equipment production, you should focus on machining companies that are certified ISO 9001:2008. This will guarantee top quality controls are in place and that specific tolerances based on customer requirements and/or industry standard will be fully adhered to throughout the production process.
