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Automation is quickly becoming a major part of the world in which we live. From consumer applications like microwaves and automobiles, to use in large-scale factories that produce everything from dollar-store hair accessories to autopilot-driven aircrafts, automation surrounds us. This is a good thing – the products we use benefit from the increased quality, consistency, and productivity provided by automated systems.
As the world continues to progress, automation follows, leads, and intertwines in nearly everything we do. This can be especially beneficial in industries such as pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical containment, which rely on cleanliness and uniformity to preserve patient safety.
History of Automation
The term “automation” has existed for approximately 100 years – it is actually only ten years older, than West. It gained popularity in 1913, through innovations at the Ford Motor Company.
In the first half of the 20th century, Ford began to automate the production of cars. They were the first in the auto industry to manufacture using a moving assembly line technique, as opposed to building each car individually. Automation allowed for the “work to be taken to the workers,” condensing the amount of time required to build, for example, a Model T to only ninety minutes, and decreasing the amount of training a worker would need in order to participate in the construction of a vehicle.
In the century since automation began, it has advanced from simple conveyor systems to now consist of computers (including artificial intelligence [AI] and machine learning) and robots. These new tools can perform many of the functions that had previously required humans, including visual inspection, movement of heavy or cumbersome objects, and other dangerous or straining tasks. Automation is everywhere, from manufacturing and production plants, where it got its start, to business and technology. According to a 2020 global survey by McKinsey & Co., nearly one third of businesses have fully automated at least one function, and two thirds had begun to automate at least one business process.
General Benefits of Automation
Automation provides numerous benefits for individuals, companies, and humanity as a whole.
These general benefits exist across all industries – transportation, food, consumer goods – but are especially significant in the pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical containment industries, due to their impact on patient health.
Automation and Pharmaceuticals
Within the pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical containment industries, automation is being used to increase the quality and safety of drug products. This comes with many benefits for the companies incorporating automation into their manufacturing and business processes, as well as for their customers.
The benefits provided by automating production are amplified within the pharmaceutical space due to the impact of drug products on patients’ health. Though consistency and cleanliness may be important in many industries, they are extremely critical in the pharmaceutical space. Any substance entering the human body must be as dependable and high-quality as possible. Injectable pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical containment systems especially should be uniform and free from contamination and particulates.
Though humans may try their best, robots and automation are unmatched when it comes to performing the same task, the same way, every time. This consistency results in reduced variation, which is a benefit to the patient. Additionally, every instance of human interaction on a pharmaceutical fill/finish line is an opportunity for bioburden, endotoxin, and particulates, such as skin cells, hairs, germs, and clothing follicles, to contaminate product that will eventually be placed in a body.
Many opportunities for advancement will appear in the pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical containment industries over the coming years:
Those who invest early to optimize their production and business functions will see great returns in productivity and quality, ultimately resulting in increased quality of care for patients.
Automation at West
West has been incorporating automation into workflow for decades. As the world grows, West understands the need to be cleaner, faster, and better for customers and their patients. From the simple conveyor belts of yesteryear to the advanced Envision™ verification systems of today, West’s cutting-edge processes are constantly evolving.
West understands the power of automation and is continuously investigating and validating new ways to support customers and their patients. West puts the patient first in all that it does and will continue to leverage the best technology available to make sure customers have the products they need, when they need them. In doing so, West continues to be “By Your Side for a Healthier World™”.
Summary
With the rapid advancements in technology over the past few decades, industries across the globe are learning to leverage tools such as automation, robots, computers, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to the benefit of themselves, consumers, and society as a whole. These benefits include increased efficiency, standardization, cleanliness, and speed – all of which are especially essential in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical containment. Maintaining the quality and safety of drug products through drug containment components must be optimized – West is up to the task. West has been incorporating automation into workflow for decades, and constantly seeks to provide the best solutions to the modern challenges faced by customers. In understanding and leveraging the power of automation, West can continue to be “By Your Side for a Healthier World™”.
Sources:
Envision and By Your Side for a Healthier World are trademarks or registered trademarks of West Pharmaceutical Services Inc., in the United States and other jurisdictions.
China has now stepped into its “golden age” of biopharma; this year regulators approved the country’s first biosimilar product, HLX01. Developed by Shanghai Henlius Biotech, it will be used primarily for treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma<span>. Biologics are sensitive large molecules, so selecting the appropriate packaging and delivery system is critical. To this end, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (“West”) recently held <em>China BioPharma Summit for Injectable Drug Packaging and Delivery Systems</em> in Suzhou. Over 200 persons attended.</span>
West’s Waterford, Ireland site recently partnered with CALMAST which is Waterford Institute of Technology’s (WIT) STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) engagement hub that was established in 2003 to drive more awareness of STEM, building on the work of secondary schools in the south east region of Ireland.
Since the Technical Guideline on Compatibility Study of Chemicals and Elastomeric Closures was published by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA, previously known as CFDA) in April 2018, it is essential for pharmaceutical companies to perform compatibility studies. However, for some domestic pharmaceutical companies that lack experience, it is unclear how to perform such a study. To address this, a series of trainings was planned by China National Pharmaceutical Packaging Association (CNPPA) – with the first held in December 2018. There were over 100 attendees from pharmaceutical companies, pharmaceutical packaging companies, NMPA-affiliated labs, and the third-party labs. The training received positive feedback from the participants.
As advancements in pharmaceutical technology increase in the use of automated injection systems for health care treatment, traditional glass vials, syringes and cartridges must withstand higher automated delivery forces and pressures. The fragile nature and dimensional variability in wall thickness of glass components may lead to breakage, which presents challenges to automatic administration systems.
West is proud to announce that its 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report has been published and is now live on the West website. In its second year, this report provides a summary of West’s efforts in six key areas including Compliance and Ethics, Philanthropy, Diversity, Health and Safety, Environmental Sustainability and Quality. Being a good corporate citizen is part of West’s DNA. This is evident in our rich history of caring for the communities and environments in which we work and live. The 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report is a testament to this commitment, and we are seeing great progress across all of our focus areas.
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