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Process Validation
Background
A large global medical device manufacturer received a Warning Letter from the FDA as a result of repeat 483 observations for process validation deficiencies. The company needed to remediate validations for more than 500 products and develop a comprehensive risk-based validation program for sustainability. Remediation needed to be completed by the next series of FDA inspections.
Result
The 18-month project delivered 24 updated risk management files and over 1800 unique IQ / OQ / PQ and test method validation studies for the company. RCA provided both classroom and hands-on training to worldwide sites. FDA inspections at client sites resulted in no additional 483 findings related to validation.
Approach
Regulatory Compliance Associates® Inc. developed a risk-prioritized remediation plan with emphasis on regulatory and business risk. Following a survey of existing design and validation data, risk analysis documents for each major product line were generated.
A validation program was developed in concert with the operating requirements of 14 global manufacturing sites. Training was developed and deployed, and RCA provided validation teams at each site to execute validations in conjunction with local professional staff.
cGMP Compliance
Compliance with current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) is crucial in the medical device industry. cGMP compliance is especially vital if you’re looking to receive regulatory approval.
RCA Experts were on site helping the client improve adherence to cGMP. A gap assessment was conducted prior to the remediation to maintain this critical compliance through the remediation process, including:
- Complaints review and assessment
- Laboratory operation improvements
- Supplier quality programs and agreements
- Investigations/CAPAs improvements
Challenge
Remediation needed to occur during continued manufacturing, and significant training was required to maintain a sustaining capability. Gaps in availability of both design and process risk analyses and test method validations (TMVs) needed to be addressed. Simultaneously, process and software validation studies were needed to calibrate automated manufacturing and data collection systems.
About RCA’s Medical Device Consultant Services
The regulatory process surrounding the medical device industry involves a strict adherence to pre/post market compliance throughout a device’s life-cycle. Even a single compliance issue you have can turn into a significant effect on your business. RCA’s medical device consultants can help guide you through any stage of this strategic process, with capabilities during product development through the regulatory clearance/approval of your product.
Our team of over 500 industry experts — including former FDA officials and other leaders in the field of medical device regulation — will work with your company to create a quality assurance and regulatory compliance approach tailored to your products and regulatory needs. RCA works with both international Fortune 100 companies and small local start-ups, as well as law firms requesting remediation for warning letters, 483’s, import bans or consent decrees. We offer expertise in a variety of medical fields, such
Cybersecurity
For medical device manufacturers, technology can be a double-edged sword. The innovative technologies that elevate the quality of life for patients can also be used to potentially undermine the organization using the device. The consequences can affect the device itself if we do not implement good IoT cybersecurity and FDA cybersecurity protocols. At Regulatory Compliance Associates Inc.®, we offer a wide variety of services for medical devices security to help ensure that your product is protected from cyber-attacks.
With a well-planned design, along with full visibility of product development and the supply chain, RCA can help strengthen your device’s cybersecurity posture throughout. We partner with medical device companies for the entire life cycle, including from the development of your product to the regulatory submission to your notified body.
Regulatory Affairs
Regulatory affairs is Regulatory Compliance Associates® Inc.’s backbone, and we handle more submissions in a month than many manufacturers do in a lifetime. We have experience working with the FDA, global regulatory bodies and / or agencies, and notified bodies worldwide. Therefore, you can count on us for in-depth and up-to-date insights which increase speed-to-market.
As a trusted regulatory affairs consultant, our FDA veterans and industry experts are here to help you navigate the difficulties associated with new product submissions. They have expertise in both the approval process and post-approval support.
- New Product Approval
- Post-Approval Support
- Outsourced Staffing
- EU MDR
Compliance Assurance
Increasingly, life science companies are feeling the pressure of greater scrutiny by regulators, and responding by developing sustainable compliance strategies. Whether it’s preparing for an audit, developing a response to an FDA finding, or remediation to an adverse event, Regulatory Compliance Associates® Inc. can help.
Our network of over 500 FDA veterans and industry professionals offers a unique blend of expertise that allows us to handle both simple and complex regulatory compliance challenges within the medical device industry.
- Gap Assessments
- Internal Audits
- Employee Training
- Notified Body Response
Quality Assurance
Regulatory Compliance Associates® Inc.’s Quality Assurance services include quality system assessments, strategy, implementations, and identification of quality metrics to ensure continuous improvement, aligning with your business needs and goals. Our consultants are quality experts with experience spanning major corporations and start-ups. We know firsthand how to achieve, maintain, and improve quality, and we excel in transferring this knowledge to your organization.
In the medical devices field, quality assurance (QA) is more than merely ensuring the quality of a finished product. You need the tools to monitor and regulate every process from the design of a new product to continued quality compliance as the device is sent to market. At RCA, we offer you the assistance you need to monitor these processes and ensure quality compliance every step of the way.
With more than 15 years of experience as a trusted medical device quality assurance consultant, our team of over 500 industry experts and FDA veterans is fully equipped to handle your unique QA needs.
- ISO13485
- 21 CFR 210
- 21 CFR 211
- Outsourced Staffing
- MDSAP
- Facility Validation
- Equipment Validation
Remediation Support
Regulatory Compliance Associates® Inc. is widely recognized within the life science industry and global regulatory agencies for its ability to help companies successfully resolve complex regulatory challenges, including remediation. With a proven track record of success, we have significant experience with the development of responses to 483 Observations, Warning Letters, Untitled Letters and Consent Decrees.
Our value goes beyond the initial response by helping companies successfully execute their action plans, develop an improved compliance culture tailored to the needs of their business, and ultimately move beyond the regulatory action to emerge as a stronger business. We negotiate difficult demands of remediation with insight and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience that makes partnering with RCA® Inc. a competitive differentiator in the remediation space.
- Quality System
- Technical File
- Design History File
- Data Integrity
- cGMP
Strategic Consulting
Whether it’s a strategy, a technical plan, or project, Regulatory Compliance Associates® Inc.’s worldwide experience can help ensure a successful mix of people and product so your project is on time, on budget, and you’re never embroiled in a costly mistake.
Our 500 industry and FDA experts are here to provide the unique insight you need before an M&A deal, through a staffing crisis and in every area of your product’s development and life cycle. As the trusted medical device manufacturing consultants of thousands of companies around the world, we have the knowledge and expertise needed to deliver exceptional results to your business — no matter your size or unique needs.
- Manufacturing Optimization
- Product Lifecycle Management
- Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
- Due Diligence
- Device Vigilance
- Product Complaints
- Medical Information
About RCA
Regulatory Compliance Associates® (RCA) provides healthcare consulting services to the following industries for resolution of compliance and regulatory challenges:
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 regulatory due diligence with insight, hindsight, and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience.
- Founded in 2000
- Headquartered in Wisconsin (USA)
- 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.
References
- FDA Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Parts 210, 211, and 820.70. April 1, 2010.
- Global Harmonization Task Force SG3, “Quality Management Systems—Process Validation Guidance,” Edition 2, January 2004.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, “Guideline on General Principles of Process Validation,” May 1987.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, “Guide to Inspections of Quality Systems,” August 1999.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, “Design Control Guidance for Medical Device Manufacturers,” March 11, 1997.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, “Guidance for Industry: Q9 Quality Risk Management,” June 2006.
- International Standards Organization, ISO Standard 14971: Medical Devices—Application of risk management to medical devices. 2007.
