1. June 20-22, 2011 | Red Rock Casino • Resort • Spa | Las Vegas | NV
Varian Medical Systems:
Looking Beyond the Medical Device Manufacturing Industry
Robert Wood, the Chairman and a speaker at the marcus evans Medical Device
Manufacturing Summit 2011, speaks on why the sector should look at best practices
beyond itself to enhance performance.
Interview with: Robert Wood, Vice President - World Wide Manufacturing, Varian Medical
Systems
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE very rarely feel the need to change. To drive innovation, there
needs to be a reason for change.
“The industry should look outside the medical device
manufacturing space for best practices,” says Robert Wood, Being in the Silicon Valley for the last 15 years, I would say the
Vice President - World Wide Manufacturing, Varian Medical medical device industry would benefit by looking at practices
Systems. “It takes time to implement changes, so we need in highly competitive, low margin industries. The telecom
to be at least three to five years ahead in our strategic vision industry has had to be very aggressive and innovative. I do not
of our organization. There are many things to learn from other agree that companies in highly regulated sectors cannot
industries.” The Chairman and a speaker at the upcoming innovate. Nevertheless, you still need to have a reason to
marcus evans Medical Device Manufacturing Summit 2011, change and express why change and innovation are necessary
in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 20-22, Wood discusses innovation, to everyone in the organization. That can be difficult but it is
cost saving strategies and capitalizing on the best practices in absolutely essential if you are planning for changes that will
other industries. positively impact shareholders.
What would solve the issues facing medical device What cost-saving strategies would you recommend?
manufacturing executives today?
Robert Wood: I have operated under Total Quality
Robert Wood: There is continued cost and price pressures, and Management, and Lean and Six Sigma – what I consider most
part of the solution lies in looking for best practices across the important is using a scientific approach for solving problems,
industry, as well as outside the medical device space. Other involving employees and using visual metrics to measure
industries are better in some fields. The telecom and performance.
automotive industries are sometimes better at supply chain
management, for example. I would encourage us to look I do not believe that one size fits all companies. The
outside our space to benchmark. In addition, medical device organizations that explain to employees exactly what is being
manufacturing companies have to continue to develop talent. done to drive costs down and make it real, will be the most
Companies live or die based on the talent within their four successful.
walls. We should spend a lot of time developing our people,
mentoring and getting the environment right so that they can Any final thoughts?
be as productive as possible.
Robert Wood: In manufacturing, developing a strategic plan is
This sounds simple, but it is actually one of the hardest things key; a plan that ties the operations and business plans
to do. In my opinion, you can only be successful in this space together, and identifies where the business is going and what
if you have a very positive environment, where employees are technology platforms and training might be needed to meet
completely aligned with the vision and mission set for the that vision in the future.
organization.
Change is inevitable. However, in our industry it takes time to
How can medical device manufacturers drive innovation? implement changes, so we need to be at least three to five
years ahead in our strategic vision. Developing a new facility
Robert Wood: Necessity is the mother of all invention. or capability takes at least 18 months to two years once the
Companies that are profitable and do not have competition decision is taken. We need to have a long-term vision to be
ahead in this game.
www.medicalmanufacturingsummit.com

2. June 20-22, 2011 | Red Rock Casino • Resort • Spa | Las Vegas | NV
Contact: Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian, Press Manager, marcus evans, Summits Division
Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com
About the Medical Device Manufacturing Summit 2011
This unique forum will take place at The Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 20-22, 2011. Offering
much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry
thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes
presentations on lean manufacturing, supply chain and risk management, and staying ahead of FDA regulations.
For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website at
www.medicalmanufacturingsummit.com
marcus evans group - manufacturing sector portal
Please note that the summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.
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business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com
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