The Importance of Medical Device Project Management

Medical device product and project risk management can rarely exist without the other. This becomes apparent when you are responsible for the project meeting its objectives.  Along with this responsibility is the responsibility of compliance with all applicable regulatory and quality requirements for developing and commercializing the products. Nowadays, the rules, criteria, and guidance are changing at an increased pace and the need for a synchronized project has become increasingly crucial. The risk management topic involving medical devices, software, etc. has made its way to the forefront for the focus of current project managers.

We can see for example, that when developing a new medical device product, there are numerous quality management system regulations and standards that will map out and detail the requirements for scheming, developing, authenticating and validation of the product prior to its transfer to manufacturing. This is accomplished by realizing controls for production itself, examination, storage, shipment, and service to the product.  In addition, surveillance of the product and its use in the marketplace along with risk management throughout the products lifecycle.

According to the Project Management Institute, Project Managers (PM) solve the appropriate problems. That's a core value at Promenade Software. It's alright to get off track, it may lead to a great concept. It’s required to come back to the large picture as well as what is right for the device or software and the client. That's why early in the project, PMs keep asking the client, "What is your desired use?" If the answer is, "Oh, we're still working on the requirements." that's really dangerous. Not just for regulative, but functional concerns. You can get a long way down the course and also understand that's not what you desire.



A normal incident on the cutting edge is something digital you expect to happen but doesn't work. You have a fall back option you really hope will work. A great project manager will communicate to the customer that the risk account has changed. When you switch from confidence to it working, to hoping it might work (as well as having an uninformed client), it ends up being hazardous. Job supervisors remain in a setting where they oversee something out of your control. Clients understand that troubles that are hard to stop or alleviate in advance can arise, yet, project managers make sure that these issues are met with the needed rehabilitative actions.


A project manager glues the team together and represents the customer internally. They also forecast concerns out to the client, so that they know what to anticipate as well as what to do with the next vital thing. It's easy to spend excessive time on things that do not matter. PMs see to it that the team invests its energy in a reliable method-- fixes troubles deeply enough, but not too deeply. They allow you to reach an outcome that's highly reliable as well as affordable. It's almost impossible to be in the trenches, working away at the details of some difficult trouble while concurrently arranging the remainder of the task team towards the end result. Here are 5 more medical device management tips on how to complete your project on time.


Project Management is crucial for medical device development, software development, and manufacturing. Otherwise, the job would blow up as well as take three times longer. Without an excellent PM, the design and development team wouldn't methodically go after the high-danger items. They wouldn't understand when it meets its requirements and when to focus on something else.


PMs make sure that Quality Assurance (QA) as well as regulative are included when required. Project managers recognize when to bring QA in. They supervise seeing to it that all regulative documents are completed. QA look at the task to make certain it has actually been done; whereas the PM makes sure it gets done. It's a lot easier for QA to speak directly with one person to understand the requirements. Project Managers end up being the voice of the customer. As the PM, you become a third party when having design and development conferences since you represent the client internally. On the other hand, to the customer, you're representing the entire design and development group. You assist them, see what's coming down the line, deal with willpower issues they might not be aware of, and utilize the advancement team's experience.



Client communication- The client bonds snugly with the PM. They want to make sure that nothing gets altered for them. The connection they have actually come to depend upon is something they can anticipate. The daily service corporate relationship is taken care of by the project manager as well as typically removes the demand to intensify concerns to a higher level.


Maintain the demands before the technical team - When you start to engage in several of the system's modern technology obstacles, you need a person to state to your team, "Do not neglect this item. What are we doing concerning this? Have we considered that?" Bringing it in front so that you are converging towards the appropriate service. You would certainly make something, but whether it fulfilled any one of the demands would certainly be pure luck. Satisfying the right needs. A great project manager will interact to the client that the danger account has altered. Clients understand that issues arise which are hard to stop or minimize ahead of time, but Project Managers make certain that these issues are communicated and that the necessary corrective actions are taken.


Give an essential interaction path- particularly on larger layout groups with 4-6 designers with a great deal of interactions. A project manager will mold the team with eachother as well as stand for the client inside. A project manager additionally anticipates issues bent on the customer, so that they know what to anticipate and what to do with the following crucial item. PMs assist with Risk administration, managing skills and handling scope creep. In the trenches, a client often asks, "Can you include this little attribute?" As you start lugging the demand out, it may have substantial ramifications for the team, routine, and price. You must quit as well as ask: "Is it worth doing?" Commonly, things will show up from an individual threat standpoint that could stop points in their tracks. Project Managers assess all the usability needs first and early in order to maintain points, be cost effective and mitigate threat.

There will always be unknowns during any medical device project, and you should expect them throughout. Read up on how Agile helps manage projects in light of these expected changes.

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Roxana Greenman, PhD

Roxana is VP of Programs & Communication at Promenade Software, Inc. She has over 30 years of experience leading integrated teams from concept through delivery of complex projects, proactively anticipating roadblocks, and paving a path for client success. Having worked for NASA Ames Research Center, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Hyundai AutoEver Telematics America, and small business organizations in the technology sector, she has gained an extensive knowledge in product development and technical and operational management. Roxana is passionate about helping customers in their quest for innovation and reaching their goals.

Roxana holds a Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Stanford University.

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Promenade Software, Inc. specializes in software development for medical devices and other safety-critical applications.
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