Automation of Guidewire Packaging Lines at ABBOTT Laboratories Vascular Division

Abstract

With the increasing demand for guidewires worldwide, Abbott decided to make changes in the manufacturing line in order to meet these demands. In an evaluation of the manufacturing process, they considered that the area that needed the most improvement was the packaging lines. Therefore, the assignment was to make the packaging lines faster. Various alternatives for each module were evaluated in order to give the company more choices to match their specific needs, including different machinery layouts and various changes in their process in order to make it faster and more effective. All the options were analyzed and the one which suited the company the most was putting two labelers, one for the box and one for the pouch. It was also decided to eliminate the printed instructions from inside the packaging and indicate on the label that the instructions could be found on the company’s website. A tab used to identify the guidewire was also eliminated and instead use a color code on the dispenser matching the color of the product label. Key Terms ⎯ Automation, Guidewires, Instructions, Tabs.