The PolyMedex Discovery Group is a custom polymer and tubing manufacturer serving the medical device industry. Started in the mid 1980’s in Northeast Connecticut, by entrepreneurial founders as the only employees, the company has grown to over 250 employees and is recognized worldwide as a leader in catheter based extrusion and drug delivery technology.

The medical device industry has changed dramatically over the past 25 years. What was acceptable back then is no longer acceptable. This discussion will describe our journey to Operational Excellence from PolyMedex Discovery Group’s humble beginnings to present day.

These efforts not only meet the changing needs of the industry, but set the standard for quality and reliability. The focus will be on key strategic quality initiatives that made transformational changes in our company, which includes: people (team building, training, leadership skills, alignment, incentive plans), process (ISO, cGMP, CAPA system), projects (data acquisition, lean, ERP, ideas system), and performance measurements (metrics).

Presenter:

Larry founded Foster Corporation in 1989 and has been CEO of Foster since inception. In 2009 Larry became Co - CEO of PolyMedex Discovery Group, following the merger between Foster and Putnam Plastics. He is a graduate of University of Massachusetts, Lowell MA, (BS in Plastics Engineering), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (MS in Materials Science), and Kennedy Western University, Thousand Oaks, CA (PhD Engineering Management). He holds 5 U.S. and international patents, and has 3 patents pending in the fields of nano composites, cross-linkable polymers, lubricated and drug-filled polymers for medical device and industrial applications. He has published over a dozen technical papers, published in leading journals and is a member of several professional organizations, including Society of Plastics Engineers (senior member), Connecticut Technology Council, University of Connecticut Institute of Materials Science Associate, Vistage (an international organization of CEOs), Beacon – Biomedical Engineering Alliance and Consortium (board member), and QVPI – Quinebaug Valley Plastics Institute (board member).