cpp – Process technology for the chemical industry 02.2020

cpp
PLANTS, APPARATUS, COMPONENTS
Digital tools optimise performance of tablet presses and capsule filling machines
Full speed ahead for smart
solid formulation production
In exceptional times such as the corona crisis, it becomes apparent just how fast and
comprehensively pharmaceutical manufacturers need to react to changing production
conditions. Demand and availability can change at any time. Such requirements
on agility can be organized more efficiently using digital tools. Fette Compacting is
now making a comprehensive set of digital solutions available for tablet and capsule
production.
Even before the spread of Sars-CoV-2, it
was clear that digital tools are decisive factors
for the success of future pharmaceutical
production. Now corona has significantly
increased the necessity of such aids. For
example, it is now more important than
ever to be able to use live chats and video
conferences for remote maintenance as well
as augmented reality applications for increased
precision.
What helps here are particularly agile
methods in order to become more flexible
and deploy resources specifically. Even if the
main processes associated with tableting
and capsule filling remain mechanical for
the foreseeable future, digital solutions will
mean that all associated processes will,
however, become more efficient, faster, and
safer.
Agile methods for faster development
The question as to how digital tools can optimize
pharmaceutical production is a core
issue at Fette Compacting. On the basis of
For efficient troubleshooting, a smart remote tool enables personal live chats and video
conferences with experts
Pictures: Fette Compacting
pharmacists’ requirements, a new division is
developing software solutions for manufacturing
tablets and capsules. The central focus
is on improving the efficiency of production
as a whole in that operators, maintenance
technicians, and their supervisors are
supported and data utilized intelligently.
The new division goes by the name of OSDi
and builds a bridge between the manufacture
of Oral Solid Dosages and the digital
future. The OSDi team utilizes the agile
methods of Design Thinking and Lean Startup
which are also widely established in Silicon
Valley. These methods are linked by the
fact that they are consistently oriented toward
the requirements of users. In fact,
users are included in the development process
right from the start, particularly operators,
maintenance technicians, production
managers, and quality managers.
In practice, this translates into an agile approach
entailing the OSDi team initially
drawing up new product sketches on the
basis of users’ “pains and gains”. These are
then sent back to the customer for a second
opinion. Using the feedback obtained, the
unit collaborates closely with the customers
to create a click dummy, a prototype, and
finally the finished tool. The customer’s
perspective is decisive at all times. This way,
ideas with less potential can be detected
swiftly and rejected if necessary, which
reduces the development process and conserves
resources.
Interactive learning content
Some digital tools have already been created
on this basis at Fette Compacting. And they
44 cpp 02-2020