Great question! Project management tools definitely make a huge difference in planning and managing projects. Programs like Microsoft Project, Asana, or even tools like Jira can help with everything from scheduling to tracking progress. Some of these tools can automatically…   Read more»

You’re right, scope creep is common in biomedical projects. To manage it, it’s crucial to set a clear project scope upfront and have a process for evaluating changes. Regular check ins and clear change management help keep things focused. Take…   Read more»

You make a really good point. In projects where the stakes are high, it’s so important to show that spending a bit more upfront on contingency planning isn’t a waste; it’s smart risk management. A good way to get that…   Read more»

That’s a tough situation but a pretty realistic one. At first, the excitement of working on something you’re passionate about can really drive you, but when you realize there’s no long term growth, it definitely becomes harder to stay motivated….   Read more»

Bartleby’s story really shows how motivation can disappear when someone feels disconnected at work. At first, he seemed like a great employee, quiet, reliable, and super productive. But then out of nowhere, he just started saying “I prefer not to”…   Read more»

Design review meetings play a big role in keeping projects on track, especially in the medical device space where documentation and compliance are so important. Even though I haven’t been directly involved in one yet, I’ve learned that solid preparation…   Read more»

You make a great point about how important those early estimates are when it comes to using SV and CV effectively. I haven’t used these metrics myself yet, but it makes sense that if the original plan is off, like…   Read more»

I haven’t had any hands-on experience with EVM yet, but from what I’ve learned, it’s a valuable project management approach. One of EVM’s biggest strengths is how it combines scope, cost, and schedule into one system, making it easier to…   Read more»

I don’t have industry experience yet, but from what I’ve learned, figuring out the critical path seems super important for keeping projects on track. It makes sense that not all tasks are equally urgent, and if teams don’t recognize that,…   Read more»

Keeping all the project elements coordinated across the 10 knowledge areas comes down to strong Integration Management, which keeps everything running smoothly. A solid project plan helps align the scope, schedule, budget, quality, resources, and risks while keeping communication clear…   Read more»

Scope management goes hand in hand with time and cost management since all three work together to keep a project on track. The project scope lays out what needs to be done, which directly affects the schedule and budget. A…   Read more»

I think your ranking makes a lot of sense, especially with SOPs being the easiest to change and anything after the design control phase being more complicated. SOPs are mostly procedural, so updating them is usually pretty straightforward since they…   Read more»

The most common risk in a project really depends on the industry and scope, but schedule risk tends to show up the most. Delays can happen for all sorts of reasons—resource shortages, technical challenges, or scope creep—and when deadlines slip,…   Read more»

Scope management goes hand in hand with time and cost management to keep projects on track. A clear scope helps with scheduling by breaking work into manageable tasks using a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), making it easier to stick to…   Read more»

I totally agree—regular design reviews are key to catching issues early and avoiding costly delays. One way to make them more effective without slowing things down is by using real-time collaboration tools and simulation software. Digital twins and predictive modeling,…   Read more»

In this week’s simulation, we were given a failed design verification test and tasked with redesigning the test to find out why it failed and how to fix the test. In the scenario given, there was a single factor that…   Read more»

Having an in-house regulatory team is really important, especially for companies with a lot of complex combination products. They know the company’s processes inside and out and can handle the mix of device and drug/biologic regulations more easily. That said,…   Read more»

Although I don’t have direct experience in managing medical device projects, I can imagine it’s quite a complex process. The combination of strict regulatory requirements, technological innovation, and the need to balance cost, time, and quality seems like a significant…   Read more»

The FDA approves medical devices through two main pathways: PMA for high-risk Class III devices, requiring extensive clinical testing, and 510(k) for moderate-risk Class II devices, which must show similarity to an existing product. PMA is rigorous, costly, and time-consuming,…   Read more»

Although I don’t have direct experience working as a Project Manager, these are some things I have learned through my courses. Conflicts over opinions or work styles can definitely be tricky, but good communication and proactive problem-solving make a huge…   Read more»