The transition from traditional dental care to digital dentistry has greatly improved people’s lives. A major contributor to this is Nobel Biocare, the world’s largest dental implant manufacturer, renowned for its groundbreaking developments. It goes without saying that every great project is backed by a great mind to ensure its success. For Nobel Biocare, that individual is Nirali Shah, a strong leader who sets new standards in the industry by working at the intersection of different fields. In this article, we look at how the innovative ideas of numerous industry experts became a reality with the efforts of just one person.
Shah is a rare example of a leader with a deep technical background in computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software development, as well as system validation.
Nobel Biocare, an integral part of dental giant Envista Holdings Corporation, has long recognized Shah’s exceptional skills. She’s been with the company since 2010, managing complex projects and playing a pivotal role in the creation of the most innovative products that have made a huge contribution to the field of digital dentistry and generated millions in revenue for the company.
Shah’s expertise in critical areas such as project management, medical device validation, design control processes, and CAD/CAM technology, which are essential to Nobel Biocare’s product development, allows her to leverage these skills in leading innovation projects from concept to launch. Throughout her career with the company, Shah has managed numerous successful developments that have resulted in their seamless completion and launch.
One of Shah’s major contributions has been her critical role in the CAD integration of Nobel Biocare’s entire product portfolio with third-party software such as 3shape and ExoCAD, called the OpenAccess Project, which was developed to provide a more open environment for dental labs and enhance the digital workflow. The OpenAccess CAD/CAM solution enables the design of precision-made Nobel restorations using the dental industry’s leading CAD software and scanner, enhancing the dental lab’s reputation with authentic Nobel Biocare implants as users of the system will be able to scan, design, and order products to be manufactured by NobelProcera Production, maintaining strict quality standards and reducing time.
The official contract between 3Shape and Nobel Biocare was signed by Shah, who is Nobel Biocare’s sole point of contact with highly reputed third-party dental CAD companies for technical aspects, as she holds the critical role as the most experienced and knowledgeable CAD/CAM technology expert. Shah has given a pioneering contribution to the successful implementation of the OpenAccess project, which has resulted in bringing new business opportunities to Nobel Biocare and generating revenues of $20 million annually.
For 13 years, Shah has integrated more than 15 dental restoration products such as crowns, implant bridges, overdenture bars, abutments, and implants with dental CAD software so that it provides an easy and accurate digital workflow for dental labs to design their restorations in the CAD software and guide the CAM to mill the designs with CNC machines. Using this technology in dentistry improves the patient experience and reduces the cost of medical services because they need fewer appointments and the accuracy of the final restoration increases.
Shah has been responsible for providing software integration, creating related libraries and catalogs, and ensuring that all technical files are complete and on schedule. She plans, performs, and documents verification and validation activities for software projects, including software, catalog, and system integration validation.
She manages the validation process of software products and conducts alpha/beta testing to verify technical suitability and analyze root causes of any issues, as well as contributes to the resolution of support cases and field complaints, ensuring that product and solution knowledge is effectively shared. In addition, Shah develops and delivers progress reports and presentations for various stages of integration and secures necessary approvals to move forward.
Shah is certified in computer system validation and has the expertise to ensure the software works as intended. She is also recognized as an industry expert in the validation of computer systems used for medical purposes. She is eager to share her knowledge, having been a keynote speaker at Stevens Institute of Technology on this topic.
As an industry expert, Shah constantly seeks new knowledge and keeps an eye on emerging trends. Despite being deeply involved in managing Nobel Biocare’s development workflow, in 2018, she decided to become a Certified Visual Project Management Specialist by dedicating 12-18 months to mastering the Envista business system tool. The certification process was rigorous and included seven steps that delved deep into various aspects of project management, including risk management, problem-solving, goal setting, team formation, schedule compression, and understanding the impact of dependencies.
Throughout the certification process, Shah reaffirmed her belief in the power of meticulous planning and proactive brainstorming. By considering all potential risks, ensuring resource availability, and building adequate buffers, she learned that the likelihood of project failure could be significantly minimized.
By this time, she had led more than 12 new product development projects, and the extensive groundwork and continuous learning have dramatically increased her success rate in managing innovative medical device projects.
Nirali Shah exemplifies how one skilled individual can take on multiple critical roles, driving innovation and ensuring the seamless execution of complex projects. Her diverse expertise and leadership are invaluable assets to Nobel Biocare and demonstrate the profound impact a dedicated professional can have on advancing industry standards and improving outcomes.
Anthony Jones is a freelance writer with over 15 years of experience writing about health supplements for various health and fitness magazines. He also owns a health supplements store in Topeka, Kansas. Anthony earned his health and science degree at Duke University, where he studied the effects of exercise and nutrition on human physiology.
