BIO El Paso-Juarez launches program to help local companies

EL PASO – BIO El Paso-Juarez officially kicked-off its program focused on helping El Paso manufactures increase the production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and develop medical device supply chains locally.

Over the course of four months, the nonprofit organization and its partners will assess, assist, and train manufactures to reach medical device ISO certification and other unique medical device sector quality system certifications.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted multiple vulnerabilities of the global supply chains for critical items such as PPE, ventilators, and pharmaceuticals, and testing kits” said Jackie Butler, U.S. Director of BIO El Paso-Juarez.

He added that the region has all of the manufacturing know-how, talent, and capabilities to reinforce supply chains, both at the local level and throughout North America. Providing access to quality systems certifications and ISO standards training will remove one of the critical barriers to improving the local supply chain in the medical device space.

This program was funded by the Federal Cares Act, provided by the City of El Paso’s Economic Development Department, to assist businesses with expanding services to meet PPE production needs and increase access to locally produced PPE.

Seventeen El Paso-based companies that have been impacted by COVID-19 will be taking part in a series of training courses provided by the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center Paso del Norte.

All 17 companies will also receive consulting services to support them in their pursuit of ISO implementation and any other support they may need to succeed in the PPE and medical device production industry.

“This support will increase their efficiency and quality systems in order to make their companies stronger and competitive to the global industry based in our region,” officials added.

Source: El Paso Herald Post