Dan Buttermore

Automation is widely adopted across MedTech manufacturing, yet many organizations still struggle to realize its full value. Systems remain disconnected, data is underutilized, and manual intervention continues to limit performance.

Grounded in first-hand experience from both OEM and manufacturing perspectives, this panel will focus on what works, what fails, and how MedTech teams can take a more structured, strategic approach to advancing automation and building scalable manufacturing systems. The conversation examines this gap through the lens of manufacturing maturity, with insights from Teleflex and Vantedge Medical on how systems evolve from isolated automation to connected, data-driven operations.

Panelists will share real-world lessons from implementation, including how OEM teams align internal stakeholders across engineering, operations, and commercial functions while coordinating with manufacturing partners. Topics will include system integration, data utilization, and the operational and organizational barriers that often slow progress.

A key focus will be on how automation strategies are developed and sustained over time, including the role of internal teams and cross-functional alignment in driving business outcomes. Drawing on experience supporting surgical business units, the discussion will highlight how automation decisions impact not only manufacturing performance, but also broader commercial and operational commitments.

The panel will also address a critical question: when does Industry 4.0 create meaningful value, and when does it introduce unnecessary complexity? Panelists will explore how to determine when these investments are truly warranted.

3-5 Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand the difference between isolated automation and integrated Industry 4.0 systems, and how that gap impacts performance and scalability
2. Evaluate manufacturing maturity levels and what defines progression from manual processes to connected, data-driven operations
3. Identify common barriers to automation success, including system fragmentation, limited data visibility, and organizational misalignment
4. Understand how early automation strategy and system design decisions influence long-term scalability, integration, and adaptability
5. Understand how OEM teams can align automation strategies with business objectives and manufacturing partners to improve outcomes across the product lifecycle.