Empowering Success in Operations and Manufacturing
Staying at the forefront of innovation is not just a goal but a necessity for medtech companies looking to make a difference. It’s a mindset that requires everyone’s participation, but not every medtech company empowers employees like we do at huMannity Medtec
huMannity prides itself on providing all of our employees the ability to make meaningful contributions to innovation, no matter their position. Within our operations, manufacturing, and supply chain management functions – that team philosophy is a guiding force that sets us on the path to success.
Fostering Happiness with Variety and Impact
At huMannity, the ethos is clear: empower all employees with the variety of work and the opportunity to make impactful changes.
Technicians, engineers and professionals from various disciplines are not just part of the process; they're at the forefront of innovation. By offering a broader range of tasks and projects, huMannity ensures that work is not just a routine but a journey of discovery and contribution. This approach enhances job satisfaction and fosters a culture where ideas can blossom. "People are encouraged to provide feedback on anything they want to at huMannity,” said Cedric Navarro, Vice President of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs. “Great ideas can come from anywhere is a common mantra here.”
One of the standout features at huMannity is the use of pilot production lines, in manufacturing labs and cleanrooms, as part of our assembly processes. Unlike full-scale production environments, these pilot lines offer R&D and Operations employees unique hands-on experiences with the freedom to test, learn, and innovate. “Our engineers and technicians don't sit down for eight or nine hours a day and do the same thing, daily,” said Chris Fleck, Director of Manufacturing Engineering. “Technicians don't stare through a microscope sitting in the same chair all day long. We have to be mobile and agile, and able to support multiple processes.” With this collaborative approach, pilot lines can become a sandbox for creativity and technical prowess, enabling technicians to suggest and implement upgrades and improvements to engineers that could revolutionize patient care.
Optimizing for Small-Scale Innovation
huMannity excels in prototype manufacturing, where we test, iterate, and refine products efficiently – a vital process when navigating the uncharted waters of cutting-edge medical technology.
This approach is particularly beneficial with certain products that demand small-batch production. “In early-stage R&D, we have an opportunity to make improvements because our people can review a design for manufacturability,” said Fleck. “Regardless of who provides the feedback, it’s more likely to be digested and potentially accepted here. In fact, we expect people to be vocal and tell us where issues are.”
One common challenge for medtech innovators and supply chains is finding partners willing to manufacture small volumes, a hurdle huMannity overcomes by maintaining flexible in-house capabilities. This vertically integrated autonomy allows huMannity to produce the necessary devices for situations such as clinical trials without relying on external contract manufacturers, providing a significant competitive edge. Going one step further, huMannity’s multi-purpose facilities accommodate the rapid reconfigurations sometimes required to meet manufacturing demands and supply chain challenges. “Our production cells are very configurable,” said Fleck. “On a Monday, we could be building one product in a production cell. And then on Tuesday, we could be building another product in there. We aren't demanding weekly output of 10s of 1000s of units, so we can be more flexible.”
Flexibility for the Path Forward
With a clear focus on the future, huMannity leverages unique operational approaches to set new standards in the medical technology field.
Our commitment to flexible production, employee empowerment, and a culture that not only accepts but insists on input at all levels, ensures that innovation is not an isolated event but a continuous evolution. As huMannity continues to invest in creative problem-solving across the organization, our distinctive methods promise to yield advancements that redefine patient care.