Orthopedic surgeons and founding members of Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama, Jeffrey R. Dugas, MD, and E. Lyle Cain, MD, recently traveled to Arthrex Manufacturing Inc. South Carolina (AMISC) to thank employees for their commitment to making the quality products that define the Arthrex brand.
“We’ve been working with Arthrex for 20 years,” said Dr. Dugas. “We wanted to come meet the people behind the products we use every day and say thank you for all the work that goes into helping us treat our patients better.”
The surgeons were given a tour of the manufacturing floor, speaking with employees along the way.
Beginning in Building A, the group had the opportunity to see the assembly area for Arthrex’s new Synergy Power™ system and talk with the team about the various features of this exciting new product line designed to deliver more power and speed while weighing less and having faster battery charging times than competing systems.
Then, in the Component Finishing department, Dr. Cain and Dr. Dugas were able to watch employees inspect metal screws under magnification, removing even the smallest imperfections.
“The attention to detail is truly impressive,” said Dr. Cain. “The level of care with which Arthrex operates makes a huge difference in our lives and definitely in the lives of our patients.”
The tour continued in Building B, the 200,000-square-foot space that houses AMISC’s Suture department, where Dr. Dugas and Dr. Cain were especially excited to thank the employees who assemble Arthrex’s FiberTak® soft anchor products.
“Dr. Cain and I were part of the initial design team for FiberTak,” said Dr. Dugas. “Twelve or 15 years ago, [President and Founder] Reinhold [Schmieding] asked us to help develop a soft anchor platform, and now, between the two of us, we are implanting more than a hundred FiberTak anchors each month.”
In addition to having the opportunity to see into the Clean Room, the group was also able to visit one of the suture assembly training areas, where they learned assembly times for Arthrex’s suture products can vary from a few minutes for a simple construct to an hour for more complex assemblies.
“It was incredibly powerful to have such respected surgeons personally recognize the efforts of our employees in training,” said Textile Training Supervisor Eunice Adams-El, who was specifically acknowledged for her role in training AMISC’s Suture Operators. “Their visit served as a good reminder that our work has real impact and is valued at the highest level."
Dr. Cain and Dr. Dugas were also pleased to meet Suture Production Manager Amber Vickery, who oversees FiberTak production.
Before wrapping up the tour, Dr. Dugas and Dr. Cain addressed a large group of Suture Assembly Operators.
“The work you do is vital to what we do,” said Dr. Dugas.
“We know exactly what to expect when we are working with Arthrex products, and we want you to know how much we appreciate that,” said Dr. Cain. “The more consistent the implants are, the more consistent our patient outcomes are.”
For all the technology, innovation and precision observed during their visit, Dr. Dugas said what stood out most of all was the culture among employees.
“When we were setting up our practice, we wanted to establish a culture that was friendly and kind, and that’s the first thing I noticed here,” said Dr. Dugas. “Being here feels like being at home in our office; people are happy, smiling, engaged and they take pride in their work. It’s truly impressive how much is being accomplished here.”
“It was very special seeing Dr. Cain and Dr. Dugas engage with so many of our employees,” said Director of Human Resources for Arthrex Manufacturing Inc. Melanie McLane. “This was the first time we’ve had surgeons come to AMISC to see what we do and thank employees for their dedication to quality, consistency and innovation. This visit brought Arthrex’s mission of Helping Surgeons Treat Their Patients Better® to life.”
“It means so much to us that surgeons took the time to come thank us in person,” said Senior Finishing Tech Kristy White. “We are proud of what we do, and it was an honor to hear that our work is appreciated and that we are making a difference in people’s lives.”
