The demand for surgical gloves has surged dramatically since the Covid-19 pandemic. Although its overall importance and application remain largely unchanged irrespective of the pandemic, it has found increased acceptance among the common populace for a wide range of daily-use applications. After the COVID-19 scare, most medical institutions across the globe have taken it upon themselves to remain prepared at all times. Oxygen supplies, surgical gloves, and various types of medicines are stockpiled at all times. After all, the crisis does not come with a warning sign. As per WHO report, glove manufacturers across the world will need to increase their production by 40% to meet the demand for surgical gloves. Another report from Fortune Business Insights mentions that the medical gloves market is projected to hit a value of 14.03 billion by 2027. The last valuation of the industry in 2019 was USD 5.95 billion.
To meet this demand, glove manufacturers will need to upscale every aspect of their operations starting from raw materials, manpower building, technology upgrades, and process optimization.
Here are a few points on how technology is expected to help the medical surgical gloves manufacturing industry in the coming years:
Technology is used to revolutionise the constituents of the material used to make surgical gloves. It can combine both natural and synthetic rubber to develop a more durable, efficient, cost-effective, and environment-friendly surgical glove.
With the use of AI and predictive models, errors in production processes can be minimised significantly while improving the efficiency in the raw material supply chain. Many tasks in glove production are still labour-intensive, which is where errors are bound to happen.
Robotics and automation in various stages of the production process and packaging can speed up the output and reduce pressure on resources in the long run. These machines can perform repetitive tasks associated with the production and packaging of surgical gloves at a much faster rate with minimal errors.
Wastage can also be reduced significantly by automating processes where it is possible. This helps in reducing costs and also reduces the carbon footprint of the company.
With stringent quality compliance becoming the norm, production processes must be impeccable with little room for error. Where the production process is automated, labour-intensive, or a combination of both, all necessary steps need to be undertaken to reduce margin or errors.
Overall, increased use of technology in glove manufacturing improves the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of the business in the long run. These advancements are meant not only to improve business output but also to ensure the wellness of workers, healthcare professionals and patients alike.
