For Immediate Release

Maryland Manufacturers Learn from BD Diagnostics’ Global Success

Sparks, October 20, 2005 – BD Diagnostics Systems President Michael Meehan welcomed Inside Series attendees into their worldwide headquarters on Thursday morning. International flags, lining the foyer, revealed the firm’s global reach. England, Germany, France, Brazil, Mexico, India and China are just some of the over 52 countries that Becton, Dickinson and Company touches.

Becton, Dickinson and Company operates three divisions, Diagnostics, Biosciences and Medical. The Diagnostics division concentrates on the activity of blood collection, and routine microbiology and infectious disease testing. Biosciences focuses on bringing innovative research and clinical tools to life scientists and clinicians. The Medical division is a worldwide leader in providing safety-engineered injection, infusion and surgery devices. BD Diagnostics is the only division with global headquarters in Maryland.

The core mission of BD Diagnostics is rooted in supplying quality medical products. As a global medical technology company, BD Diagnostics “manufactures supplies, devices and systems used by health care professionals, medical research institutions, industry and the general public,” explained Vice President of Operations Bruce Hoed. In 2005 sales reached approximately $5 billion, with 24,000 employees in over 250 locations.

BD Diagnostics’ major products include the Probetec ET, BD Viper, MGIT960, EZ Lateral Flow and BACTEC LX, among others. These products assist in blood culturing, specimen and molecular testing. According to Hoed, BD follows three operating principles for their product development: (i) growth through innovations and new products, (ii) operational effectiveness and (iii) organizational capability.

BD Diagnostics prides itself on the knowledge and education levels of its employees. Many of these well-trained professionals are certified in specialty fields, or hold Bachelor’s degrees and above. Additionally, BD has it’s own university which provides training. Baltimore County Executive Director of Economic Development David Iannucci proudly reports “MD has highest concentration of professional and technical workers in the U.S.”

BD Diagnostics sites future challenges as the continuous development of employee skills, meeting the challenges of global competition, and providing greater value to their customers.

The Inside Series is co-hosted by the World Trade Center Institute (wtci.org) and the Regional Manufacturing Institute (marylandmanufacturing.info). Look for other Inside Series events at wtci.org.