Result

Background

A global health care company received an FDA Warning Letter for quality issues with its manufacturing facility. As the organization began working through the issues identified in the Warning Letter, it became clear, even with good quality systems, improved operational execution was needed to sustain successful results. The operational improvements were focused in areas such as shop floor discipline / execution, facility housekeeping and maintenance, managerial focus on all levels and, most of all, assessing and attacking specific operational shortfalls within all the operational groups.

 

Solution

The manufacturing facility engaged Regulatory Compliance Associates^® Inc. (RCA) to develop and implement a plan for data quality improvements to support the evolving quality management system. This assessment and subsequent improvements involved needed support from the somewhat skeptical operations management group.

 

RCA and the local operations management team worked jointly to assess the plant and identify gap areas needing improvement to support the quality initiatives.

 

Data Integrity 

RCA assisted the facility to develop and implement a tracking system to monitor operational tasks, ongoing process improvements and ways to enforce accountability of key personnel. This tracking included key performance metrics for the following areas: training compliance, floor audit performance, batch record error improvement, document timeliness and line clearance performance.

 

Recognizing that the operations management team was inexperienced, RCA engaged and mentored the key operations floor managers as they began implementing improvements and tracking progress.

 

Operations Result

Besides crafting and implementing the operations improvement plan, RCA assisted the company to instill a culture of operational excellence and individual accountability with an inexperienced team. RCA helped the organization recognize gaps, develop action plans and create a tracking mechanism to monitor operational progress.

 

Not only did these actions clearly improve quality and compliance, but they provided financial returns such as a deviation and inspection cost reductions as well as increased available line time which more than covered the cost of RCA’s third party support. Most importantly, the management team learned the importance of communication across all departments and at all levels to achieve success. Ultimately, the facility’s commitment will contribute to an environment of sustainability long after the RCA consultants have left.

 

About RCA

Regulatory Compliance Associates^® (RCA) provides worldwide services to the following industries for resolution of compliance and regulatory challenges:

 

• Pharmaceutical
• Biologic & Biotechnology
• Sterile compounding
• Medical device
• Lab Testing

 

We understand the complexities of running a life science business and possess areas of expertise that include every facet of R&D, operations, regulatory affairs, quality, and manufacturing. We are used to working on the front lines and thriving in the scrutiny of FDA-and globally-regulated companies. As your partners, we can negotiate the potential minefield of regulatory compliance and private equity due diligence with insight, hindsight, and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience.

 

• Founded in 2000
• Headquartered in Wisconsin (USA)
  • Regional offices in Florida, Colorado and Europe
• Expertise backed by over 500 industry subject matter experts
• Acquired by Sotera Health in 2021

 

To begin the RCA^® scoping process today, please enter your information in the blue form below and click the submit button at the bottom of the webpage.