Biomedical value chain traceability for innovation

This paper examines biomedical traceability and its importance for improving development, production, and use of drugs and medical devices. Biomedical traceability means that the flow of material and information within a biomedical product value chain can be followed from raw materials to patient outcomes. This paper uses data from a survey of biomedical manufacturing companies to show the gaps in the tracing of the flow of material and information within biomedical product value chains, highlight the relationships between biomedical traceability and product and process innovation, and offer recommendations for research and advancing innovation.