Optimization of a Packaging Work Cell in a Medical Devices’ Manufacturing Plant

Abstract

This project was focused in the optimization of a packaging process within a medical device industry. The purpose was to improve secondary packaging process case packing, from a totally manual process to a fully automated. The term “medical devices” covers a wide industry. From sophisticated computerized devices with elaborated mathematical algorithms to rudimentary wooden tongue depressors. The medical device under the subject of this project is manufactured, and packed at the same manufacturing facility, using hi-end packaging machines. The process of packaging the medical device consists of two major steps: primary packaging and secondary packaging. The secondary packaging take a Polypropylene (PP) dewdrop shaped shell strip and accumulate it in three different boxes presentation. The actual process uses two operators to fill shipping cases with the boxes ejected by the secondary packaging machine. This optimization project will add automation machinery to eliminate the manual case packaging process. The intention is to reduce the human interaction and provides an electronic verification of the quality of the boxes and the information included in the case’ label. Key Terms - Medical device, packaging line, manufacturing, Packaging Improvement.