Few technologies are advancing faster than those in the medical field—so having the right advanced analytics software can be a game changer. Instrumentation Laboratory is a leader in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of medical devices and related technologies, including technology that is revolutionizing whole blood and hemostasis testing. To help ensure its continued growth and success, the company relies on data analytics and Dell Statistica. Problem As a market leader in diagnostic instruments for critical care and hemostasis, Instrumentation Laboratory must take advantage of rapidly evolving technologies while maintaining both quality and efficiency in its product development, manufacturing, and distribution processes. In particular, the company needed to enable its research and development (R&D) scientists and engineers to easily access and analyze the wealth of test data it collects, as well as efficiently monitor its manufacturing processes and supply chains. “Like many companies, we were data-rich but analysis-poor,” explains John Young, Business Analyst for Instrumentation Laboratory. “It’s no longer viable to have R&D analysts running off to IT every time they need access to test data and then doing one-off analyses in Minitab. They need to be able to access data quickly and perform complex analyses consistently and accurately.” Implementing sophisticated analytics was especially critical for Instrumentation Laboratory because of the volume and complexity of its products. For example, every year, the company manufactures hundreds of thousands of cartridges containing a card with a variety of sensors that measure the electrical signals of the blood being tested. “Those sensors are affected by a wide range of factors, from environmental changes like heat and humidity to inconsistencies in materials from suppliers, so we’re constantly monitoring their performance,” says Young. “We collect millions of records of data, most of which is stored in SQL Server databases. We needed an analytics platform that would enable our R&D teams to quickly access that data and troubleshoot any problems. Plus, because there are so many factors in play, we also needed a platform that could intelligently monitor the test data and alert us to emerging issues automatically.” nstrumentation Laboratory is excited about the opportunities made possible by the visibility Statistica advanced analytics software has provided into its data stores. “Using Statistica, you can discover all sorts of insights about your data that you might not otherwise be able to find,” says Young. “There might be hidden pockets of money out there that you’re just not seeing because you’re not analyzing your data to the extent you could. Using the tool, we’ve discovered some interesting things in our data that have saved us a tremendous amount of money, and we look forward to finding even more.”
Questions for Discussion
1. What were the main challenges for the medical device company? Were they market or technology driven? Explain.
2. What was the proposed solution?
3. What were the results? What do you think was the real return on investment (ROI)?