Merit Medical Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of proprietary disposable medical devices, has successfully implemented an integrated physical solution combining video management with access control. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in South Jordan, Utah, Merit employs approximately 7,000 people worldwide and operates manufacturing facilities across multiple continents, producing interventional, diagnostic, and therapeutic devices for hospitals and healthcare facilities.
To enhance their operations, Merit Medical has created a unified platform by integrating their access control system into their video management software (VMS). This strategic integration allows their personnel to manage both video surveillance and access control through a single, map-based interface. Working with longtime integration partner Stone Security, a BearCom Company, Merit has developed a comprehensive solution that transforms how they verify identity, track movements, and respond to events across their global operations.
Managing separate video and access control systems created operational inefficiencies for Merit's team. With operators constantly switching between platforms, incident response times were slower than desired. Visual verification of access credentials required manual coordination between systems, while investigating historical activity meant navigating two separate databases. Additionally, training staff on multiple systems increased onboarding time, and all of this created the need for a more unified, efficient approach.
Merit Medical implemented an integrated solution combining Milestone XProtect video management software (VMS) with their existing S2 NetBox access control system. Working with Milestone Premier Partner Stone Security, Merit leveraged the ORBNET Systems connector to unite these platforms, standardizing on network video cameras from Axis Communications throughout their facilities. The solution incorporates door controllers, credential verification, and visual recognition into Merit's existing VMS-based mapping system. This integration provides a single interface for operations, allowing staff to verify identity, control access, and review events seamlessly.
The integrated platform has significantly enhanced Merit's operational effectiveness and security posture. Staff can now verify credential use against live video, eliminating the need to switch between systems. Investigation times have decreased dramatically, with operators able to quickly retrieve access events and corresponding video data. Visual verification has strengthened perimeter protection and access protocols, while the streamlined system has reduced training requirements for new personnel and improved overall response.
At-a-glance verification allows officers to quickly confirm that the credential user matches the authorized individual. For facilities with 24/7 operations, this significantly improves their ability to monitor multiple entry points simultaneously.
Investigating incidents now takes Merit's team minutes instead of hours. When investigating an event, staff can start with either door access records or video data, then seamlessly connect the two. If they see unusual access to a restricted area, they can immediately pull up video of who entered. Similarly, if suspicious activity appears on camera, they can instantly check which badges were used nearby. This eliminates the frustrating back-and-forth between separate systems, allowing the team to resolve incidents much faster.
Each access event in the system has a bookmarked video clip, allowing rapid confirmation of who used the credential. This helps identify potential violations such as tailgating, credential sharing, or unauthorized access attempts. For a company operating in the regulated medical device industry, this level of documentation and verification provides essential compliance support.
The system's verification capabilities extend beyond access control to include complex investigations. When unusual patterns are detected, personnel can rapidly review a person's movement throughout the facility, matching video evidence with access records to create a complete timeline of events. This integrated approach has proven particularly valuable for internal investigations requiring complete documentation and evidence.
Merit's team works much more efficiently thanks to their combined video and access control system. Staff can see doors and cameras on the same digital maps, allowing them to quickly help employees who need access while responding faster to potential concerns. When someone needs help at an entrance, the team can immediately see who is there and unlock it with just a few clicks, saving time and improving protection in one simple workflow.
As Merit continues to expand its integrated approach, they are leveraging the flexibility of Milestone's open platform to create increasingly sophisticated operations. By bringing together video, access control and mapping in a unified system, they have established a solution that scales with their growing global business while maintaining operational simplicity and effectiveness.
