EFCLIN scales new heights

Caroline Christie reports from the 33rd congress of the European Federation of the Contact Lens Industry Congress

The EFCLIN Congress was held in Vienna from October 6-9 under the theme of 'Our business in 2010'. Over 220 delegates from over 30 countries attended the trade exhibition and full lecture programme from industry experts and contact lens practitioners sharing their view of the contact lens and IOL industry in 2010.

Over recent years the congress has gained a reputation for being one of the foremost industry gatherings of contact lens and IOL manufacturers and suppliers to the industry. This year's meeting was no exception, with 10 lecturers taking part over two days in a parallel track lecture programme addressing the needs of  sales and marketing personnel, as well as technical members of the manufacturing world.

EFCLIN also organises an educational course for lab technicians from around Europe. This year the theme was modern tool maintenance and in particular diamond tools.

The congress programme was opened by Helmer Schweizer, head of professional services for CIBA Vision EMEA in Switzerland and president of Euromcontact. Schweizer, in a provocative (yet motivational) way, to stimulate discussion, outlined some of the unexpected, unlikely, yet possible and indeed already visible trends that could shape the CL marketplace over the next five to 10 years.

These included changes to the distribution channels and de-regulation of CL supply, a trend to move from soft to silicone hydrogel or Si-H lenses with further material, modality and design developments, including Si-H blanks for made-to-order manufacture and new polymers and designs to enhance comfort as well as the development of antibacterial surfaces. Schweizer then reviewed the myopic and presbyopic markets which are growing at an alarming speed, looking not only at CLs but surgical and even pharmaceutical developments which are already in the clinical trial phase.

Glynis Ross-Munro from Sterling, US, focused on training programmes in the ophthalmic industry. Her very well-structured presentation made clear that investment in training of manufacturing, sales and customer service personnel is not for free but by doing so one can see payback several times over time.
There is a block of know-how, a set of measurable knowledge, skills and attitudes on any level of skills which constitute the competencies one must have in order to do the job well.

There are two sets of competencies, the personal or IQ work skills and the job knowledge/task work skills. She reflected on evaluating methods by which competency can be built at all levels and using resources most effectively for the best long-term results. She also reminded the delegates about the very old principle in management - what gets measured, gets managed, which also applies to training.