Five-Minute Interview

Q If I wasn’t talking to you right now, what would you be doing?
A I would be sitting in an internal “gate review” meeting discussing the market potential, the unique selling proposition and the customer benefit of a future product under development. The “gate keepers” are composed of a high level management group representing research and development, manufacturing, marketing, sales and regulatory affairs.

Q How did you get into the industry?
A I started out in “pure” biomedical engineering having studied this subject at Giessen Applied University, Frankfurt, Germany, and in the United States. I was always interested and curious about both fields, that is, biology/medicine and engineering/IT. My grandfather has been a medical doctor, my father an engineer. My brother is a medical doctor. I was most likely not skilled enough for any particular field, so I was searching for the right mix that fits my personality and gives me the chance for leadership. The interest in business and technology management developed during my increasing responsibilities as a leader in my various positions. I joined endoscopic company Richard Wolf more than one year ago.

Q What is the best thing about your work?
A I am learning something new every day, ranging from technological knowledge to managerial skills.

Q What do you think is the most important medical device invention ever?
A This must be individual medical devices that function inside the body and maintain life and its quality. Therefore, the invention of the pacemaker is probably one of the most important because it has also generated a large medical device market.

Q What should people give more attention to?
A People should not simply rely on the repair of their bodies through devices and medicine, and they should pay more attention to technology and performance, which preserve life and its quality.

Q What is the most exciting development on the horizon?
A This is definitely the integration of medical knowledge and sensors into devices for decision support and ease of use in real-time applications, for example, controlled device navigation through the body for diagnostics and therapy.

Q What do you want from your suppliers?
A Reliability, consistent premium quality delivery, excellent price–quality ratio, long-term affiliation, and fair business ethics and trading.  

Professor Dr Jörg-Uwe Meyer 
is Managing Director of Richard Wolf GmbH 
Pforzheimer Strasse 32, D-75438, Knittlingen, Germany
tel. +49 7043 351 332
e-mail: joerg-uwe.meyer@richard-wolf.com
www.richard-wolf.com