5 Ways Simulation Training is Crucial in the Medical Device Manufacturing Industry

man looking into microscope

Why Simulation Training is Crucial in the Medical Device Industry

New technologies are driving the next generation of medical device manufacturing - and simulation training is leading the way to ensure the representatives are fully up to speed on new products and releases.

In an environment where every single staff member needs to understand the complex series of procedures and compliance requirements demanded by this industry, simulation training offers a safe and effective method of learning, without the risk inherent in learning “in the field”.

In this blog we delve into why so many medical device businesses are switching to simulation training for their staff.


1. Improving regulatory training

Keeping up with the myriad changes in medical device regulations is hard enough. Then consider the varying requirements of different states and countries - it quickly becomes a serious headache to keep everybody across the latest specifications. It’s time-consuming and complex, not to mention expensive, and a single mistake could result in serious (even deadly) ramifications for an MDM company and its customers.

Simulation educating through an online tool allows for not only practical skills but also soft skills such as leadership and communication to be tested. Staff can be measured and assessed on their learnings, ensuring that everybody is able to remain compliant no matter where they are in the world and without having to bundle everybody into a physical classroom.


2. Meeting quality requirements

Quality management systems and the relevant ISOs require specific steps and procedures to take place in order to remain compliant and maintain quality.

This includes:

  • Cleanliness and sterilization

  • Calibration and monitoring equipment

  • Corrective action when necessary

  • The specifics of the manufacturing processes themselves

Simulation instructing allows a MDM staff member to learn and master these procedural tasks quickly, effectively and within a realistic context for maximum learning.


3. Thorough device training

Everybody in the supply chain, from manufacturers to designers to salespeople, needs to have device training. It is a crucial element of the program. A device built, sold or used incorrectly poses a serious risk to patients, and in some cases, could have deadly repercussions.

eLearning and simulation allows for a thorough teaching regimen for all staff members and trainees, giving companies the opportunity to provide more specific training for specific roles. Salespeople, for example, benefit significantly from having in-depth education on how a medical device operates in a clinical setting. This allows them to ‘walk in the customer’s shoes’ and build credibility with clinicians during the sale.


4. Training in volume

Training staff to a standardized level of quality and competence across a large organization can be a logistical nightmare.

Simulation training, unlike traditional classroom-based methods, can be rapidly deployed across a wide number of people and a wide number of locations. As long as somebody has access to the internet, they’ll also have access to the simulation. All that is required is a connected device - even just a mobile phone - and the staff member can participate in the tutelage.


5. Adaptable and flexible

As technology and legislation changes, so must the training, and rolling out a new set of materials without the use of simulation systems is incredibly difficult. Archiving old versions, updating new ones, ensuring everybody is able to work with the new materials - it’s often a huge logistical project for medical device manufacturing companies.

Simulation training, on the other hand, enables updated training to be rolled out rapidly, and even customised to ensure that it is effective with varying ability levels. Professionals requiring merely updated information, will have very different requirements to that of new onboarding employees.

Simulation training allows everybody to work towards competence in their own roles effectively while still retaining a shared standard across the business.

In short, simulation training allows MDM businesses to train their staff quickly, effectively and flexibly, no matter where in the world or what level of skill they have.

 

Request a SimTutor Demo Today

For more information about eLearning and simulation training, get in touch with the team at SimTutor today.

 

About the author

SimTutor

SimTutor Inc is a global leader in simulation-based learning.

SimTutor Author is an authoring tool designed to help you build interactive procedural simulations and branched scenarios for any industry where realistic, just-in-time, measurable training is critical. 

SIMTICS is a library of ready-to-use simulations for learning medical and healthcare procedures and skills, powered by SimTutor Author.