This month we are excited to introduce you to our Product Manager, James Williams, who has been an integral part of our team for four and a half years. In our latest instalment of Meet the Team, we learn about James’ typical day, understanding the ever-changing market and helping to navigate the company through EU MDR.
Although we may not be able to vouch for his skills as a landscaper (more on that later), his determination and understanding of our products helps us stay ahead of the curve and meet our customers’ needs.
What does your job entail?
I support the business with product guidance to fulfil our commercial, operational, clinical, and regulatory needs. This includes coordinating change control together with internal stakeholders for product introduction and discontinuation. It also requires a deep understanding our market, customers, competitors and product differentiation, as well as close collaboration with our quality and regulatory teams to ensure product compliance. Additionally, I co-ordinate the development of product instructions (IFUs), updates to packaging and labelling specification.
Describe an average day.
Each day is different but often includes responding to enquiries about pricing data, product availability, sales data, labelling, spec sheets, supplier catalogues, etc. I usually set aside some time in the morning to work on projects such as IFU updates, market research, or various project work. I grab a coffee mid-morning before attending a meeting on EU MDR, such as risk analysis or product design review. After lunch, I may have to co-ordinate with a supplier on the creation of a new product code which requires updates to our label database, barcodes, GS1 GTIN, ERP system and change control approval.
Which departments do you work with most within the company?
Much of my work needs to be coordinated between commercial, operations, engineering, clinical, quality and regulatory teams.
What do you like most about your job?
I enjoy working with so many stakeholders across the business and representing the customer as a proxy for product requirements. My role is highly varied, which makes each day interesting.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
The conclusion of the EU MDR and being in a strong position to focus on listening to customer needs and exploring what new product opportunities there may be to expand our portfolio. I am also looking forward to supporting our marketing team with the development of our new website, brochure and product technical data sheets.
Tell us something that people won’t know about you.
I previously hired a mini digger to DIY landscape my garden. However, by the time I was finished my lawn bore a striking resemblance to an archaeological dig site and there were numerous holes in the fence caused by accidental collisions with the digger bucket swinging around.
Eakin Healthcare’s Surgical therapy area is a manufacturer of high-quality single use surgical instruments that are sold worldwide. Our solutions have been designed in response to the growing concerns over the cleaning of reusable fine lumen instruments – which are associated with high risks of patient-to-patient cross-infection.
We work closely with healthcare professionals to identify where products can be improved and bring to market innovative solutions that offer surgical teams the reliable, practical and flexible tools that they rely on – without compromising on the high quality, ease of use and functionality of the reusable equivalent, and while still delivering optimal value and safety for patients.