Nick Kirichkow has spent 20+ years in the Medical Manufacturing space with a focus on assembly automation and packaging. He has worked at Baxter, Abbvie, Abbott, Medela and Treximo. Of his many roles, sourcing and validating capital equipment for medical manufacturing has been constant. Nick’s experience within the medical manufacturing industry combined with his engineering and process improvement knowledge makes him a great resource for Harpak-Ulma customers.
Nick received his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northern Illinois University and his MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management.
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What is Harpak-ULMA?
Harpak-ULMA is a packaging solutions provider that offers reliable, user friendly, and fully integrated packaging equipment systems and lifecycle management services that assure peak performance and lowest total cost of ownership. Our broad range of packaging technologies can suit any need – from simple, single components to highly complex, automated, fully integrated packaging lines. Not only that, but we promise 24/7 support on-site and remote to help you every step of the way.
What was your professional journey that led you to working for Harpak-ULMA?
I Graduated in 2002 with my mechanical engineering degree from NIU. Started working for Baxter Healthcare in the lab and worked my way into a Global Automation Engineering role. Supported manufacturing plants globally with new assembly and packaging equipment for the disposable device side of the business. My mentor and long-time boss retired from Baxter, and I sought out a new mentor. This brought me through Abbvie, Medela, Abbott, Consulting and eventually at Harpak-Ulma in 2001. Those previous 20 years of being a customer of capital equipment immensely prepared me for the Sales Support Role I have here at Harpak-Ulma.
Can you share some things your organization has done that you are most proud of?
Many of our packaging solutions, not only in the medical segment, end up touching the end users. Knowing that our equipment helps provide safe and effective products to meet end users’ needs is a humbling experience to be a part of. In addition to our innovative solutions, we give back to our community through charitable events, for example we participate in our local YMCA giving campaign each year.
What motivates you as a leader?
Collaboration. Working with our talented team and seeing the tangible results of customers’ products being packaged through our efforts is personally rewarding.
What advice would you give to aspiring healthcare leaders who are looking to make an impact in this industry?
Be a sponge and absorb information from your peers and leaders. Your experiences, good and bad, will help shape your future roles.
How do you see the healthcare industry changing in the next 5-10 years and what is your organization doing to stay ahead of those changes?
I do not anticipate many large changes like the impact that Covid has shown us. We are seeing our customers get back to the basics of improving quality, reducing labor and piece price costs.
How does your company prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in terms of your workforce and the services you offer?
We are an equal opportunity employer dedicated to fostering a workplace environment where individual and team achievement is recognized and rewarded, and diversity is highly valued. Everyone at Harpak-ULMA lives by our core values of Integrity, Commitment, Service, Excellence, Teamwork, and Innovation to cultivate a culture that inspires and builds confidence within our teams.
What do you see as the biggest opportunity and challenge facing the healthcare industry in Medical Alley?
Bringing the packaging conversations earlier in the process. While packaging is typically the last step in the process, it has big impacts on the overall process flow of manufacturing. Sourcing of materials, marketing impressions and equipment layout are some of the big hurdles to be tackled early on.
What are your hobbies or things you enjoy doing when not at work?
I was once told I was “Sporty”, and I have grown to like the term over the years. I enjoy playing most sports, I have even been playing in a basketball league for over 20 years. However, what really gets me excited are board-sports and two wheels. These hobbies have brought me to many beautiful parts of the world. I have snowboarded LAX Switzerland, surfed the Bay of Biscay and rode my dirt bike to the Salten Sea.
What is your favorite thing about the Medical Alley community?
I have only been to one medical alley event as I am still a newbie to the community. From my limited experience so far, the “speed dating” aspect of the networking events is very enjoyable. You get to chat with many diverse individuals and learn a little bit about them, even if there is not a connection needed at the time.
