Human-centric manufacturing culture: a research study of MedTech manufacturers in Ireland

Digital manufacturing is rapidly evolving; however, this transformation is predominantly technology centric. Human-centric manufacturing shifts the paradigm for the digital manufacturing enterprise towards a human focus to realising its envisioned digital future. In that context, Digital Manufacturing Ireland (DMI), Ireland’s expert body for driving digital adoption across manufacturing, initiated a research study in collaboration with two research partners, MIT and IAAE, in support of this important focus for future manufacturing. This paper discusses results of the DMI 2023 human-Centric Manufacturing Culture Study, which engaged manufacturing leaders from 11 MedTech companies with major manufacturing sites in Ireland. Overall findings are discussed, with a focus on 12 emergent themes grouped in four categories: imperatives, values, strategies, and practices. Planned collaboration initiatives and anticipated future research are described. This paper also highlights considerations regarding new thinking needed by manufacturing leaders, along with recommendations as to what leaders can begin to do differently.