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Problem-solving is a known skill of engineers. They are also innovative, detail-oriented and good under pressure. Whether these qualities are inherent or learned, to be a prolific problem-solver, you first need to ensure that you are asking the right questions. Deciding which problem to solve can be just as difficult as the act of solving it.
The March issue is an ode to the orthopedic industry’s problem-solvers. We interviewed company executives and entrepreneurs who, engineers by training, shared their visions for the future of orthopedic solutions. We highlight nearly a dozen companies that received FDA’s Breakthrough Device designation based upon their novel, one-of-a-kind technologies. We talk to R&D and product development leaders about how they’ve kept their teams productive as they shifted from in-person collaboration to remote work. Finally, we dug out a 2006 article from our own company founder and former industry engineer and executive to share a list of questions you should re-ask and re-answer as you seek to bring efficiencies and savings to your next project. The starting point for these diverse perspectives and situations was: what is the right problem to solve, be it for my employees, my company, provider customers or future orthopedic patients?
What emerged from these conversations is a clear signal that orthopedic companies are producing remarkably innovative and interesting products. Yes, the industry is extremely complex, highly regulated and working to bounce back from a very difficult year, spurred on by COVID. But the drive to push forward, design and build new, industry-shaping technologies remains. That’s absolutely worth communicating and celebrating, especially as we embark, using our strengths, to gain wins in 2021.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t share that we, too, have been working on R&D projects that we’re excited to unveil. A modernized BONEZONE website and enhanced Supplier Directory will be launched in the second quarter. Our editorial priority remains: we seek to bolster your product development initiatives by educating you on business-critical topics that fuel success. You can expect a focus on orthopedics’ competitive landscape, pioneering advancements, market shifts, regulatory changes, human behavior, digital technology and more. We aim to provide advice on not only how to problem-solve, but also which problems to solve.
