5th Semi-Annual Medical Device Supplier Quality Conference: Speaker Interview
Joerg Pantermoeller
Director, Supplier Quality Management
BIOTRONIK
Currently engaged as the Director of Supplier Quality Management at BIOTRONIK, with global responsibility for suppliers of components, materials & services in the cardiac rhythm management business. Involved in Strategic Supplier Selection, Supplier Qualification as well as Monitoring. Former positions include various responsibilities in the automotive industry like the FIAT Group as well as in the Supplier´s industry, like ZF Friedrichshafen, one of the TOP 3 Suppliers the Delivery of transmission system and various others. Setup of Quality Management Systems, Involvement in Strategic Product Development and Supplier Management were the major challenges to overcome.
Joerg will be one of the distinguished speakers at the 5th Semi-Annual Medical Device Supplier Quality Conference.
Why is the Medical Device Supplier Quality Conference important for SQA executives?
The MDSQC is important as the WHO is WHO of the industry related to Supplier Management Topics will meet and discuss current topics as well as future trends. It’s one of the best meetings in the world to exchange information and understand expectations and trends of the industry.
What is one thing you hope to learn or discuss with your peers at this conference?
I hope to discuss challenges that we are facing at our company in the near future and get a best practice approach from the experts at the MDSQC, very much related to the expectation of the new ISO 13485.
What supplier quality initiatives are on the horizon for your team in 2017?
Various, from partnership models to support innovation up to the implementation of lean concepts of supply management as well as performance optimization.
How is your team preparing for the transition to the new ISO 13485:2016?
We are getting trained on the new ISO and will have internal programs to adapt the organization to the new standard.
How can supplier quality teams better collaborate with suppliers?
First, respect them as an integrative partner and acknowledge their capabilities to support the manufacturer to be as close as possible to customer needs, Second develop programs exactly with that mindset and drive regular partnership models which are targeting the collaboration. The knowledge of the individual challenges will drive ideas for improvements and supports getting procedures streamlined as well as developing input for improvements.
