| This is because Six Sigma aims at minimizing variation | | | | processes at different sites. |
| in products and processes, and Lean Manufacturing | | | | Rewards of Six Sigma |
| aims at eliminating manufacturing waste. | | | | The Lean transformation has to happen at the |
| Possible Areas for Implementation: | | | | operations and management levels, as well as in the |
| -Research and Development | | | | behaviors towards customer focus and consistent |
| The Research and Development process is the most | | | | mission statement and values. Six Sigma teams |
| important process in pharmaceutical companies and | | | | should endeavor to change momentum in their |
| forms a major part of costs. The Lean concept is | | | | organizations. |
| desirable in this scenario to understand the critical | | | | Six Sigma training cannot be ignored; a |
| processes to new drug development, and to | | | | comprehensive strategy towards training needs at |
| research and streamline existing ones. | | | | multiple points in the transformation to Lean means |
| It is important to have these objectives to reduce | | | | achieving stronger organizational skills throughout top |
| drug failures, effect maximum utilization of resources, | | | | management and other staff members. |
| and increase productivity and optimum utilization of | | | | In the transition to Lean Six Sigma, IT plays a very |
| staff and other resources. | | | | important role towards continual improvement. The |
| -Cycle Times | | | | complex pharmaceutical manufacturing structure |
| Increased cycle times are major factors affecting the | | | | requires flexible and interoperable IT systems. |
| timely manufacture, supply and launch new drugs. | | | | Systems should be in place that enable data mining |
| The earlier companies can take advantage of this | | | | and analysis quickly, accurately and efficiently. The |
| market situation ultimately means the difference | | | | data will then be more reliable. |
| between success and failure of the product. | | | | With unduplicated data, the information recovered |
| Value stream mapping and process modeling | | | | becomes the driving force in decision-making, as well |
| concepts of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma can | | | | as in lowering administrative costs. For example, if a |
| help in reducing cycle times and operational costs, in | | | | batch of drugs released is defective, a reliable IT |
| addition to increasing the efficiency of processes as | | | | system can provide data towards the locations to |
| well as staff. | | | | which it has been dispatched, as well to find out |
| -Defects | | | | where the defect may have originated. With more |
| Any defects with respect to drugs would be a big | | | | dependence on automated checks built into the |
| blow to any pharmaceutical company. Lean concepts | | | | system, quality results are achievable. |
| such as DFSS can help, as they utilize tested scientific | | | | This enables rapid analysis and design changes for the |
| tools and statistical tools that help reduce the cost of | | | | improvement of operating efficiency and compliance. |
| human errors. | | | | Last but not least is the utilization of real-time |
| Companies can use advanced tools to conduct quality | | | | demand driven sales, which helps reduce inventory |
| analysis, yield analysis, cost comparison of jobs, risk | | | | and its carrying costs before product expiration. |
| assessment and comparison of manufacturing | | | | |