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Why Is It Important to Have an ISO 13485:2016 Certification as an Injection Molder?

Service providers can produce high-volume injection molded parts for a range of industries and applications. Quality assurance teams use state-of-the-art metrology equipment to ensure precision and accuracy with individual and bulk injection-molded parts.

Manufacturers are responsible for producing quality products that meet all applicable industry standards. Regular third-party audits ensure that even the most complex parts meet industry standards, including ISO 13485:2016 guidelines. Read on to learn more about this certification and its importance in the manufacturing industry.

What is an ISO 13485:2016 Certification?

An ISO 13485:2016 certification outlines the requirements for implementing and maintaining a quality management system (QMS) when producing medical devices and their components. While certifications like ISO 9001 are more widely applicable, ISO 13485 was published exclusively for applications involving medical device products.

Organizations actively involved in the following stages of the lifecycle can seek certification:

• Design and development
• Production
• Storage and distribution
• Installation
• Technical support

Companies meeting ISO 13485 requirements can also service medical devices and offer provisional services like technical support. The certification can also apply to suppliers that provide quality management system-related services and products to various organizations.

Importance of ISO 13485:2016 Certification as an Injection Molder

An ISO 13485 certification allows for unified standards within the medical device industry. By adopting ISO 13485 guidelines, manufacturers commit to a high caliber of security and quality. These guidelines also set businesses up to meet requirements outlined by the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR), the EU Medical Device Directive (MDD), and various other medical laws.

The ISO Injection Molding Standard ISO 13485 was officially updated in 2016 to reflect the latest industry guidelines. This version outlines requirements for quality management systems related to the manufacturing and servicing of medical devices to ensure customer satisfaction. The ISO 13485 certification applies to all medical equipment manufacturing factories and does not differ based on size.

ISO 13485:2016 Certification Process

To obtain an ISO 13485 certification, organizations will need to thoroughly outline a number of processes and controls:

1. Planning the Quality System. Documented quality plans must be in place that outline any intended changes to a quality management system. An experienced ISO consultant can help you visualize plans as Gantt Charts and spreadsheets.
2. Meeting Regulatory Requirements. Organizations that manufacture medical devices must comply with the latest regulatory requirements.
3. Implementing Design & Process Controls. All implemented design and process controls must be properly documented and effectiveness validated to meet ISO 13485 guidelines.
4. Documents, Training, and Records. A quality manual should clearly define the process interactions of the quality system. A process interactions diagram typically contains the following three levels:
   1. Management processes
   2. Product realization processes (from design to shipment)
   3. Support processes
5. Management Processes. Regularly assessing and updating quality management systems is key to ensuring safety in any operating environment. Management processes should be reviewed regularly to ensure ongoing compliance.
6. Certification & Annual Audits. ISO 13485:2016 requires an audit from industry-specific personnel and a qualified ISO registrar to receive initial certification. The certification is validated annually via a surveillance audit. The process includes a review of all relevant procedures, records, processes, and management systems.

Contact D&M Plastics to Learn More About ISO 13485 Certification Requirements

D&M Plastics is one of the first custom injection molders to receive the ISO 9001 certification, which we maintain along with our ISO 13485 certification. Our ISO certifications cement our reputation as a leading injection molding manufacturer in the nation. With over 50 years of experience producing high-quality components, clients in the medical device industry and beyond continue to rely on us for their injection molding needs.

Contact us for a personalized quote or to receive more information regarding our plastic injection molding services.

Service providers can produce high-volume injection molded parts for a range of industries and applications. Quality assurance teams use state-of-the-art metrology equipment to ensure precision and accuracy with individual and bulk injection-molded parts. Manufacturers are responsible for producing quality products that meet all applicable industry standards. Regular third-party audits ensure that even the most complex […]

Leaning Into Lean: Guide to Lean Principles in Manufacturing

Lean principles in manufacturing are guidelines to assist manufacturers in reducing waste and streamlining production efficiency. D&M Plastics is an early adopter of lean principles, which has allowed us to transform our organizational culture and operations. As a result, we are an industry leader in sustainable and efficient manufacturing approaches.

What Are Lean Principles?

Originating from the Toyota Production System, lean principles focus on minimizing waste while maximizing value for customers. The five core principles of lean manufacturing are value, value stream, flow, pull, and perfection, all of which improve the efficiency of the production process. Manufacturers can also improve the quality of their products and reduce operating expenses by adopting lean principles. Established companies like General Electric and Toyota have successfully adopted lean principles and set new benchmarks of excellence for manufacturers in every industry.

The Cultural Aspect of Lean at D&M

At D&M Plastics, lean principles are more than just guidelines for manufacturing. We embrace them as a philosophy and integrate them into everyday operations. Our daily lean meetings allow employees to share how they have implemented lean ideas to eliminate waste, as well as discuss new ways to improve efficiency in their departments. Our decision-making is guided by lean principles, influencing everything from supplier selection to creating production schedules.

Since adopting the principles of lean manufacturing, we have discussed over 12,000 lean ideas and implemented 85% of them, with more actively being developed for future adoption.

How to Implement Lean Principles in Your Manufacturing Process

1. Conduct an audit of your current manufacturing processes to find inefficiencies and waste.
2. Focus on employee empowerment by educating and encouraging the use of lean principles. For example, our Lean Training Program teaches employees various lean methodologies. We also request feedback and ideas from staff and implement their ideas the same day, if possible. This approach encourages employees to actively engage with lean ideas and put those ideas into practice. This feedback loop also enhances our efficiency over time, minimizing downtime as much as possible.
3. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) continuously to ensure proper implementation of lean principles.

Challenges and Solutions

Resistance to change can often be a challenge to implementing lean principles. Employees accustomed to older methods may be reluctant to adopt new methods. At D&M Plastics, we encourage employees to adopt new methods by involving them in the decision-making process, allowing them to be stakeholders in adopting and implementing lean principles.

Strong leadership is crucial in overcoming adoption challenges. Our leadership at D&M is committed to fostering and maintaining a culture of continuous improvement.

Ready to Go Lean? Transform Your Manufacturing With D&M Today!

The five lean principles in manufacturing guide the production efficiency and culture of a manufacturing facility. At D&M Plastics, we implement lean principles in our everyday operations, from holding daily lean meetings to offering lean training programs. While it can be challenging for employees to adopt lean principles at first, strong leadership and employee engagement work hand in hand to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Founded in 1972, D&M Plastics delivers superior quality plastics with fast turnarounds. We can meet the design parameters of the most complex projects, all while upholding the principles of lean manufacturing and our commitment to environmental sustainability. Contact us or request a quote to learn more about our services and lean principles in manufacturing.

Lean principles in manufacturing are guidelines to assist manufacturers in reducing waste and streamlining production efficiency. D&M Plastics is an early adopter of lean principles, which has allowed us to transform our organizational culture and operations. As a result, we are an industry leader in sustainable and efficient manufacturing approaches. What Are Lean Principles? Originating […]