PW: Describe Covidien’s process for package development.
Mulligan: With five different divisions ranging from pharmaceuticals and medical devices to retail products, we approach the packaging development process based on the needs of the consumer and the purpose of the product. Often a package will be integral to the functionality or design of the product or an extension of it, rather than just an outer casing.
PW: Where do you look to source information about packaging material and machinery innovations?
Mulligan: We try to go to the most important trade shows, including Pack Expo. We keep a close eye on what’s happening with innovations in Asia and Latin America. We rely heavily on working with industry regulators such as the FDA and its global counterparts.
When selecting machinery and materials, we’ll consider the supply chain as a whole to see how products will be tracked, such as bar-coding technologies, which are becoming highly regulated in the drug and device industries. Taking this approach allows us to determine upfront manufacturing costs and can also help us avoid unnecessary expenses and possible recalls down the line.
PW: What are the drivers behind proper selection and use of machinery and materials when developing a product?
Mulligan: In the device industry you will find that regulations often limit how innovative you can be with design, but there are still many factors to be considered. What is the purpose of the end product? If a product will require a delivery system, for example, we need to examine the requirements behind the design to properly choose what equipment to purchase to manufacture it, and what materials best complement the design. We also have to analyze whether or not the new packaging can be manufactured on existing production lines.
It often comes down to a question of capacity—whether or not our existing machinery can withstand an additional product run.
At Covidien, our strategic sourcing teams work directly with our partners to select the highest quality materials that best complement the product. Cost is certainly a factor, but we recognize success requires a certain level of investment.
