Experience

Clients

Our client list includes companies developing software and hardware products, as well as learning tools, documents, and complex systems.

Some clients are not listed because they requested absolute confidentiality.

Aksys - develops and markets innovative dialysis products and service.



Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts - construction trade association representing general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and associate companies. More >

Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation - is dedicated to increasing the understanding, safety, and efficacy of medical instrumentation. More >

Boston Scientific - advances the practice of less-invasive medicine by providing a broad and deep portfolio of innovative products, technologies and services across a wide range of medical specialties

Dräger - develops complete anaesthesia workstation systems, ventilators and incubators, as well as system solutions and services for in-hospital Critical Care and HomeCare.

Emerson Hospital - is a full-service, non-profit community hospital located in Concord, MA , that is affiliated with the Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA). More >

Ethicon Endo-Surgery - develops and markets a broad portfolio of advanced surgical instruments and medical devices for minimally invasive and traditional surgery. More >

Gambro - provides products, therapies and services for In-Center Care dialysis, Home Care dialysis and blood purification in Intensive Care units, including dialysis machines and disposables.

Gillette - is a globally focused consumer products marketer that seeks competitive advantage in quality, value-added personal care and personal use products.

Hill Rom - works to help healthcare professionals safely deliver effective and efficient care to their patients in acute care, long-term care and home care environments. The company's extensive product and service offering includes: patient care beds, stretchers, therapeutic surfaces and devices, patient flow systems, nurse communication systems, headwalls and facility assessments

International Design Magazine - is America's leading critical magazine covering the art, business and culture of design.

Minnetronix - a Minnesota-based company, develops custom embedded electronic and software solutions in partnership with medical device companies, specializing in the rapid design, commercialization, and manufacture of highly integrated and miniaturized systems.

MooBella - has created a multi-patented, fully automated ice cream process. The companyıs refrigerator-sized appliance produces fresh ice cream with mix-ins, on the spot, made to order.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - has one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world; the collection encompasses nearly 450,000 works of art. The MFA welcomes more than one million visitors each year to experience art from ancient Egyptian to contemporary, special exhibitions, and innovative educational programs.

TransMedics Inc. - develops products that sustain human organs in a physiological functioning state in preparation for transplantation.

U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Center for Devices and Radiological Health - is responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical devices. More >

Vaisala - manufactures electronic measurement systems and equipment for meteorology and the environmental sciences.

Vitra - designs and manufactures furniture found in countless successful companies and organizations, as well as in the homes of many private individuals with a feel for design. Active internationally, Vitra works together with the major designers of the day and has been manufacturing the furniture created by the famous US designers, Charles and Ray Eames.

Note: We provide links to case studies only in cases where the work is completed, the associated products have been brought to market or otherwise publicized, and our clients have given us permission to publicize the details of our work.

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Project Details



Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts

WR&D conducted an extensive survey of construction managers, architects, developers, and building owners to determine their views on engaging union and non-union contractors on construction projects.

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Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation

We helped AAMI develop an international conference for medical device design and manufacturing professionals, "Human Factors, Ergonomics, and Patient Safety for Medical Devices," was held on June 28-30, 2005, in Washington, DC.

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Emerson Hospital

We are studying the experience of patients served by the hospital's Bethke Cancer Center. Specifically, we are conducting patient and staff observations and interviews in order to develop personas, scenarios, and a list of critical incidents pertaining to the care process. We expect our findings to help the Center identify ways to further enhance the patient experience.

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Ethicon Endo-Surgery

We conducted collaborative research on the usability of a novel endoscopic instrument (details proprietary). Our core tasks were to observe and document several endoscopic procedures and interview endoscopists and nurses to generate a deeper understanding of their workload and the associated human factors issues.

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U.S. Food & Drug Administration - Center for Devices and Radiological Health

Michael Wiklund is serving as the co-editor and contributor to a new handbook on human factors in medical device design. He is authoring chapters on Workstation Design and Software User Interface Design. Each chapter contains numerous detailed guidelines that will help medical device developers produce safe, ergonomic, and usable solutions. The FDA has already authorized the authors to adapt the technical content for publication by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, a leading publisher of human factors-related titles.

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Prior Work

We bring considerable experience to each new project. Our staff's collective experience, developed working for other organizations prior to joining WR&D, includes the following products:

Medical and Scientific Devices

  • Anesthesia Workstation
  • Blood gas analyzer
  • Cryoablation console
  • Hemodialysis machine
  • Hospital intercom
  • IV infusion pump
  • Nurses central monitor
  • Patient monitor
  • Peritoneal dialysis machine
  • Ventilator

Software

  • Automobile website
  • Automotive diagnostics application
  • Circuit board inspection application
  • Mortgage information website
  • Stock market website
  • Stock trading application

Consumer Products

  • Automobile navigation system
  • Lawn tractor
  • Mascara applicator
  • Office telephone
  • One-way pager
  • Precision scale
  • Premium audio system
  • Wheelchair
  • Television remote control
  • Two-way radio

Documentation

  • Booklets on human factors in voting system design
  • National standard for human factors in medical device design
  • Installation instructions for GFCI electrical outlets
  • Quick reference guide to automotive diagnostic device
  • Quick reference guide to hospital communication system
  • Style guide for the design of communication devices
  • Swimming pool warnings

Legal and safety analyses

  • Evaluation of an over-the-counter drug warning
  • Safety analysis of machinery used on fishing boats
  • Risk analysis of an over-the-counter medical device
  • Safety analysis of children's playpen
  • Safety analysis of step ladders

Expert Systems

  • Jet turbine test facility
  • High frequency radio communication system
  • Nuclear power plant shutdown panel
  • Office products retail system
  • Rapid transit control system
  • Robotic control system

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