Miscellaneous
Which came first, manufacturing or design? For Eric Soederberg, CEO at Sunrise Labs, the answer is simple. Design always comes first. But, as more manufacturing companies gobble up small, independent medical device design firms in a merging technique to make investors money, design becomes an accessory to the product instead of the impetus. On this episode of “Making Bright Ideas Work,” Soederberg explained why this practice is bad for clients and consumers and why design firms are better off remaining independent from manufacturing firms. Medical device creation begins with the end-user. Clients first come to design firms to request a new product. The designers work on creating the best, most efficient product. Once designed, they choose the applicable manufacturing plant that is equipped to build out their new design. But when the two parties are already holding hands, the best, most efficient product is not produced. Rather, designers create for the manufacturer’s capabilities instead of the client’s needs. Though buying out design companies can lead to fast growth, Soederberg said, it more often leads to low quality in the end. You won’t find everything you need under one roof, said Soederberg regarding the niche knowledge of designers coupled with the specific capabilities of a manufacturer. As medical devices are usually complex, sometimes involving electronics and coding or acute knowledge of chemistry, it is rare to find a coupled up design and manufacturing pairing that suits all of a client’s needs.