Other Committees

Solids Processing and Tablet Compression Committee (SPTCC)

In November 1999, the Tablet Compression Committee and Solids Processing Committee were merged to form the Solids Processing and Tablet Compression Committee. (SPTCC)

Of the many topics where beneficial exchanges have been held, thirteen stand out, as follows:

• Lights out operation
• PAT implementation
• Shop floor organisation
• Compressor changeover & set ups
• Overall compressor performance - in conjunction with Fette
• Solids transfer & powder flow
• Tablet coating operating practices
• Dust collection & minimilisation
• Materials handling particularly bulk collection
• WIP/CIP
• Continuous processing
• Tool usage, maintenance & storage
• Maintenance performance improvement

Since September, 2008 Special Interest Group workshops for Energy Conservation, LEAN Culture and Maintenance Excellence have been successfully held on a periodic basis.

Tablet Packaging Best Practices Committee (TPBPC)

This committee was started in July 1998 as a working party with the aim to make packaging lines more adaptable and flexible in line with demand for more pack sizes and colours.

It was found that most issues relating to adaptability were machine or line specific, and thus should be left to the individual pharma companies. However, it emerged that members had many operational issues in common where benefit could be gained by the type of roundtable exchange and benchmarking employed by the Solids Processing and Tablet Compression Committee. Exchanges from which members have derived considerable benefit include ones about:

• Managing low volume packing runs
• Line clearance improvements
• Personnel training and grading within a focused factory
• Identification of 'Golden Nuggets'
• Improvement in SOP structure / layout
• Problematic equipment and service suppliers
• In-line printing and security systems
• Use of CI tools and techniques
• Implementing pack rationalisation

Recently the committee has focused on:

• Sharing outcomes, successes & failures, of Business Process Improvement projects
• Eliminating redundant in-process controls
• Assisting one another to improve Batch records, aiming to online release
• Sharing progress in industry effort to resolve serialisation issues

Currently, TPBPC is introducing multi-member Kaizen events and Special Interest Group workshops aimed at assisting members to improve Line Clearance and Changeover on packing lines.

Sterile Operations Committee (SOC)

The SOC started in 1999 as a sub-committee of the General Membership Committee, focusing on the unique technical and operating problems facing engineers involved in supporting sterile / aseptic manufacturing.

The scope of SOC's meetings have now expanded to include sessions aimed at improving working practices, operator / technician training and production line efficiency.
Currently the SOC meetings feature sessions about:

• Major equipment maintenance
• Improving maintenance performance
• A review of the micro biological and micro monitoring scene
• Regulatory agency audits
• Calibration systems
• Integrity testing
• Aseptic product packaging
• The use of isolator versus barriers

Since mid 2008 under the leadership of Paul Merrick, who with AstraZeneca played a key role in the growth of CFPE, SOC has initiated the preparation of special Troubleshooting Guides for major processing equipment, starting with autoclaves.

Lab Engineering Support Committee (LESC)

The LESC (Lab Engineering Support Committee) of CFPE was formed in September, 2009 to provide a forum for those involved in supplying engineering & maintenance support to Pharma R&D laboratories in UK and Ireland.

The main aims are:

• To provide framework for sharing ideas for reducing site energy consumption and facility/equipment maintenance costs
• To provide through CFPE's various communication channels the means to help resolve operating, maintenance and engineering issues
• To provide a "panel of users" for engaging in dialogue with problematic OEM's and contractors

A near term objective is to expand the Laboratory Engineering Support Committee(LESC) to include other Pharma R&D sites.

As with other CFPE committees LESC will hold meetings at member sites three times per annum and will have a proactive email query network.