MD&M West explores timely topics and walk away with a set of new skills. (Credit: Pixabay/markmags)

In this Q&A, Hayley Haggarty, general manager, Advanced Manufacturing Group, discusses the evolution of MD&M West.

Q: MD&M is in its 35th year, how has the show evolved over the years?

A: Over the past 35+ years, there have been a number of trends and market forces that have made a notable impact on the medical device manufacturing sector, from the development of the supply chain, minimally invasive technology, to the emergence of Industry 4.0 today. While MD&M West has changed to support key decision makers in the industry over the years, we’re most proud of evolving into an educational hub for companies and professionals across the globe to explore timely topics and walk away with a set of new skills.

This year's conference program features a lineup of brand-new formats — including Lightning Workshops, Tech Talk Panels, and exclusive networking opportunities — expertly designed to meet the needs of professionals in medical design and manufacturing and beyond. We’ll also be debuting an all-new Medtech Wall displaying “40 years of medtech innovation” in the spirit of MD&M West’s 35th anniversary and Medical Device + Diagnostic Industry’s (MD+DI) 40th. Attendees will be inspired as they interact with past and present technologies and advancements from the ever-changing Medical Design and Manufacturing industry.

Q: What can attendees look forward to seeing at the show?

A: With over a thousand exhibiting companies spanning the medical device and manufacturing sector, attendees can discover the latest product innovation advancing the multi-billion-dollar medical field. Education is foundational to this year’s edition of MD&M West, offering a host of learning opportunities for medtech professionals. This year we are debuting the MD&M Innovation Lab, showcasing the latest end-product technologies across the medical device industry providing attendees an intimate environment to engage with some of medtech’s most cutting-edge technologies right on the show floor. Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn from Microsoft, Auris Health, Inc. Nasa Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Stryker executives via exclusive keynote presentations. Topics to be discussed during the keynote panel include:

  • Next-gen human-robot interfaces and developments for surgical and smart manufacturing applications.
  • Top trends in mobility, manipulation, and programming using advanced sensors;
  • Funding sources, from government and academia, to industry-led coalitions and private investment.
  • Trends in design of both system architectures that support operating processes, to critical design elements important for new product development.

Q: What are the industry trends and main focus areas and topics that will be discussed?

A: The conference agenda is strategically curated to mirror not only this year’s trends but also those forecasted to shape the medical design and manufacturing landscape. With the industry’s global reach, many companies are involved with the European market and are facing challenges with the European Union’s Medical Device Regulations and In Vitro Diagnostics Regulations. MD&M West 2020 dedicated an entire track -- Keeping Up & Staying Compliant with Global & FDA Regulations -- to helping attendees navigate the new regulations and modernization of processes by which medical devices come to market. A snapshot of sessions and panels include:

  • Panel: Strategies for Implementing the New EU MDR Requirements
  • EU MDR & IVDR Compliance: Tales from the Trenches
  • The Impact of IVDR Requirements on Manufacturers & Strategies
  • Developing Innovative Regulatory Plans for New Products

For more information on MD&M West and to register to attend, visit: www.mdmwest.mddionline.com .

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