GAMP® 5 Concept 2 – System Life Cycle
So far in our series on GAMP 5 we’ve provided a high level overview of the five major GAMP concepts, and a more in depth discussion of Concept 1, Process Knowledge and Understanding. In this...

GAMP® 5 Concept – Process Understanding
In my previous blog I re-visited key GAMP® 5 concepts as they relate to establishing a compliant system validation methodology. My next few blogs will focus on each of these concepts in more detail....
Risk Assessments Mitigate Risk for Bigger and Smaller Companies Alike
Earlier this year, the Officer of Inspector General (OIG) put smaller life sciences companies on notice that they should put in place a risk assessment process as part of their corporate compliance...
Post-Validation: Gate Nine of the Nine Gate Transfer Process
As the pharmaceutical supply chain evolves, at some point product/technology transfers will become part of the improvement process. When transferring production from site to site, an array of complex...
Manage Speaker Program Risk More Effectively with a Needs Assessment
Over the past several years, pharmaceutical company Corporate Integrity Agreements (CIAs) have routinely required needs assessments in connection with the engagement of healthcare professionals...

Clinical Research Solutions
Quality System Professionals: Learn how to Speak “Executive-ese”
It is amazing to me that more C-Level Executives do not perceive their Quality Systems as a powerful vehicle to reduce costs, improve productivity, and benefit their bottom line. Rather than embrace...
GAMP® 5 Basis for Quality System Compliance
Next week I’ll be in San Francisco conducting an ISPE training class on Risk Based Approach to GxP Process Control Systems. Attendees will include employees from a variety of regulated life cycle...
Cleaning Disaster or True Worst Case?
How robust are your cleaning validation measures? Could your storage procedures withstand the impacts of a fire within your facility, or would such a disaster set back your production time...

Improving Computerized System Quality Through Design Verification
Unverified Design – An Example For those of us who travel routinely, one of the most sought-after treasures in the typical airport terminal is an electrical outlet. With our dependency on mobile...
Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Corporate Compliance Program: How Does Your Program Measure Up?
At the recent Pharmaceutical Compliance Congress (PCC), Zane Memeger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania stated that one of the key questions that a company should ask about its...
Computer System Validation: Resolutions for the New Year
How are you doing with those New Years’ resolutions? Whether or not you’re a resolution maker (or breaker), you can use this time of year to take stock of where things stand, including your validated...
Impact of Wavelength Accuracy and Precision on Spectrophotometric Measurements
A while back I was involved in a Quality Assurance project reviewing calibration specifications for analytical instrumentation. The client had implemented a new requirement that all calibrated...
Clinical Research Solutions
U.S. Attorneys Send Strong Message that a Company’s Response to a Compliance Issue is Key Element of an Effective Compliance Program
A common theme among the government enforcers speaking at last week’s Pharmaceutical Compliance Congress (PCC) was the importance of putting in place an effective corporate compliance program to...

What is the Future for Pharmaceutical Compounding Companies?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may soon be cracking down on compounding pharmacies according to a recent bill introduced in the United States Legislature. The bill (Drug Quality and Security...
Critical Elements of Knowledge Management in a Pharmaceutical Quality System
The concepts detailed in ICH Q10, Pharmaceutical Quality Systems (PQS) are commonly understood and are progressively being employed in modern quality management systems. The intent of the PQS...
Why Measure and Report Quality Metrics?
A wise man recently told me that “honor and respect should be given freely, but trust is earned”. Whether it’s in politics, friendships, church, marriages, parenting or even the business world,...