There is certainly no shortage of issues to roil medical OEMs, contract manufacturers, and suppliers. Several contentious issues will be the basis of a one-hour discussion (Advanced Materials panel sponsored by Memry Corp.) slated for the Medical Design & Device Expo (mdshowcase.com), Santa Clara, Calif. on September 22. A few issues slated for discussion include:

• If your company adds technology and value to an OEM product, who now owns the device? The contract manufacturer would probably like to use the same value-added technology on other products, but the OEM might object.

• Why does a clearly stated AQL (acceptable quality level) met by suppliers get brushed aside by downstream inspections? The AQL is often written into specs and agreed on by both OEM and supplier.

• And what do companies really get out of trade shows? Some say the Web makes live events expensive, time consuming, and unnecessary.

Panel members will include B.Braun Vice President of OEM Sales and Marketing Tom Black, Memry Director of Corporate Communications Jim Hartle, and others. Medical Design Editor Paul Dvorak will moderate the panel.