Acquired by Medtronics in 2014 for $43 billion, Covidien–a medical device manufacturer– had an interesting perspective to share with EMBA 43 during our tour of their Shanghai manufacturing plant and production facility.  Although they expect some changes related to the acquisition to occur over time, they do not expect anything to change drastically, and no changes at all until early 2016.

EMBA 43 students and physicians Vamsi Narra and Sheyda Namazie-Kummer share their experiences with Covidien products.

Eleven members of our EMBA class 43 work in the medical industry. Both Vamsi Narra and Sheyda Namazie-Kummer spoke with familiarity about Covidien products we saw in the plant, and how they are used in hospitals.

Covidien thermometer. Sales for this thermometer increased by ten times during the height of the Ebola crisis. EMBA 43 students Laura Tellman, Tim Sims, and Jim Young are reflected in the glass case

Our tour included viewing production rooms through windows, as well as discussions with our guides of the processes and procedures used to insure supply chain efficiency as well as optimal training for workers.

My group’s guide, Cindy Lu, Financial Controller, pictured below, is completing an MBA this year through the Manchester  University program in the United Kingdom.

Tour Guide Cindy Lu describing the Covidien timeline.