MedAccred Makes an Impact at Implants 2016

The Implants conference, held annually in France, is an important opportunity for companies specialising in the field of orthopaedics to learn about the latest trends in manufacturing techniques and market perspectives.  As part of a wider session on contract manufacturing focussed on how collaboration between OEMs and Contract Manufacturers can drive innovation, delegates were given an engaging update on the MedAccred.  The program is uniting leaders in the medical device industry who are working together to accredit suppliers for critical process manufacturing which will deliver better overall quality and enhance patient safety. The keynote presentation, which was given by Simon Adam, Senior Director, Supplier Quality for DePuy Synthes and Joe Pinto, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Performance Review Institute provided attendees with an explanation of MedAccred’s approach to critical process auditing, its alignment with the FDA’s current approach to supplier quality and its impact on the future of medical device supply chain oversight. For Simon, who was instrumental in the initial efforts to establish MedAccred, the initiative is “one of the programs that can help us as an industry better manage the supply chain.”  Simon also believes there are advantages for suppliers themselves: “MedAccred is also valuable for the suppliers too. In addition to increasing overall standards of critical processes, MedAccred is an opportunity for suppliers to leverage an accreditation and ultimately grow their business within the medical device industry.” A number of companies including Bodycote, Hanson-Balk, Solar Atmospheres, Synergy Health and Global Technologies have already achieved accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to quality and above all patient safety. Others, such as Sanmina Corporation, SINBON Electronics, MTD Micro Molding and BMP Medical have completed audits and are in the process of attempting to gain full accreditation.