| The Lean manufacturing approach has worked for | | | | emails, instant messaging, and social networks, there |
| countless companies in the redesign of their business | | | | is little doubt that customers might soon be speaking |
| operations to minimize waste and cut costs through | | | | directly to their drug manufacturers about product |
| variations of process repetition. Some might argue | | | | information, instead of their doctors or other medical |
| that these Lean manufacturing principles have been | | | | professionals. |
| used most successfully in recent years by the | | | | Also, in the Lean pharmaceutical environment of the |
| pharmaceutical industry. Basic Lean applications in the | | | | 21st century, there is little doubt that cycle time |
| pharmaceutical industry up until this point have been | | | | reduction and quality will both increase dramatically. |
| focused on factory-based pharmaceutical | | | | Because cycle time is often quality driven, it is not |
| manufacturing concepts and cost effectiveness. But | | | | uncommon for it to take longer to release a batch of |
| what will the Lean approach be in the ever evolving | | | | drug products, than it takes to produce them. Even |
| pharmaceutical world of the 21st century, and what | | | | with current Lean concepts in place, longer cycle |
| innovative role will it play in directing companies | | | | times can disrupt the flow of the whole product |
| towards less waste and more productivity? | | | | itself. In the future, however, there is no doubt that |
| Lean manufacturing principles go hand in hand with | | | | cycle time and quality will both be improved |
| the pharmaceutical industry because they both rely | | | | dramatically, ensuring higher quality products, with less |
| on the principle of manufacturing thousands of | | | | production time for the company.Quality enhancing |
| batches of product with minimal variation, at the | | | | technologies such as PAT (Process Analytical |
| lowest possible price. By determining out the most | | | | technology), strategies will clearly play an important |
| cost-effective way to develop a product, reducing as | | | | role in this LEAN approach. |
| much waste as possible, the savings that accrew | | | | Until recently, many in the pharmaceutical industry |
| forin an industry as large as the pharmaceutical | | | | have been apprehensive in the adoption of Lean |
| industry can be quite significant. But as we move into | | | | principles into their companies, even though they |
| an ever evolving technological world, what role will | | | | have shown great success in other industries. These |
| Lean strategies have in the 21st century | | | | fears stem from a concern that a Lean |
| pharmaceutical industry? | | | | manufacturing approach will cut down on the quality |
| In the Lean manufacturing environment of the 21st | | | | control of a product, resulting in lower quality |
| century, pharmaceutical companies will not only run | | | | products, which may result in lawsuits or non FDA |
| efficiently, but hyper-efficiently in every possible way. | | | | approval. But as more companies in the |
| With developing technology, and ever mindful waste | | | | pharmaceutical industry begin to use Lean strategy |
| reduction methods, the Lean laboratory of the | | | | with great success, many in the field are optimistic of |
| future, will be quite different from what it is today. In | | | | its effectiveness in the future. |
| the future world of Lean manufacturing, every | | | | If your pharmaceutical company is looking to apply |
| customer-supplier connection will be as direct as | | | | Lean strategies to your business, then contact a |
| possible, with little opportunity for process | | | | pharmaceutical consultancy firm that specializes in |
| confusion.to no ambiguity. With technology such as | | | | Lean business strategies. |