Supply Chain Management

Unlike the technology products typically built by electronics manufacturing services (EMS) providers, complex medical devices and instruments contain highly specialized, custom-built mechanical components that make use of a variety of technologies. The supply chain management for these complex devices presents unique challenges that simply do not exist for technology products that are composed mainly of off-the-shelf components. Complex medical devices do, in fact, contain some off-the-shelf components for the electronics front-end and, for those parts, medical OEMs face common supply chain concerns such as delivery and volume fluctuations.

In addition, complex medical devices contain custom-fabricated plastics, sheet metal, and machined parts as well as fluidics, optics, radio frequency (RF), and electro-mechanical sub-systems. These components are infinitely more complex than off-the-shelf components and require aggressive and expert management of the mechanical supply chain. 

Off-the-Shelf Electrical and Mechanical Components

For commodity components, a successful supply chain strategy starts with thorough planning and research. Paramit uses sophisticated software that analyzes component demand, time in market, and other factors to predict which parts are likely to reach end-of-life, allowing the supply chain team to address this risk early on.

Paramit purchases authorized electronic parts direct from manufacturers or through authorized franchised resellers. We do not purchase components through gray market brokers or non-franchised resellers. This approach ensures the quality of the parts and gives us direct access to the manufacturers’ technical support when technical challenges occur. Our key component suppliers maintain full timeon-site materials program managers to assist Paramit with quotations, schedule fluctuations, dual source/end-of-life recommendations, and escalations.

Custom Fabricated Mechanical Components

Paramit’s success as a manufacturer of complex medical devices and instruments is based on two fundamental strategies: (1) invest in top-notch engineering resources and equip them with the tools they need to resolve the most complex manufacturing issues and (2) partner with the best suppliers by establishing a preferred mechanical supplier program that qualifies, evaluates, and constantly monitors suppliers based on a set of thorough and detailed technical and business criteria. Paramit works closely with these suppliers to address critical customer issues.

Paramit uses a multi-faceted set of criteria to evaluate a mechanical supplier’s capabilities, expertise, and business acumen. We evaluate the materials they can work with, their processing technologies (for example, machining, molding, thermal forming), the materials science knowledge they have, their quality systems and history, and their Design for Manufacturability (DFM) expertise and bandwidth. Paramit actively seeks vendors who will add value to the design and manufacturing process through their knowledge of materials, technologies, design, and techniques. We also choose solutions-oriented suppliers who will partner with us and our customers throughout the manufacturing process, beginning with design. These vendors must provide strong peer-to-peer resources and demonstrate a willingness to work through any problems that arise. We view these vendors as an extension of the Paramit team and as such they must share our business values and high standards for quality.