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Serialization Continues to Impact Pharma Automation Investments

Automation and IoT are on trend, as the industry continues to meet serialization regulations.

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Upcoming regulations associated with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) require unit-level traceability by 2023, whereby each unit must have its own unique serial number and barcode, which allows it to be tracked throughout the supply chain. Pharma companies are therefore continuing to invest in new equipment to improve efficiencies and comply with regulations, particularly on the line, according to a new report by PMMI Business Intelligence.

Said one Equipment Engineer at a Pharma company, “The vial goes into a case, and you identify the case that is going onto a pallet. Some of the equipment is not capable of that modification, so you’ll have to buy it. It’s a new and major expense. “

Companies are also investing in flexible equipment that allows them to package different products on the same line to increase utilization of this process.

In the short-term, facilities are increasingly leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) by connecting equipment with computers and devices to maximize productivity, control operations and maintain quality, a trend that is expected to continue as more regulations are implemented and more tracking data is required throughout the supply chain.

Said one Packaging Engineer at a Pharma company, “Flexibility and more virtual functionality are what we’re talking about. As far as systems, we need better systems where we can access them internally and externally through contract manufacturers to share info such as scheduling or document approval sharing.”


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