A quick Tour on Pharma IT Landscape

As a new comer to Pharma from an IT Managed services background, it was totally a different world for me, four and half years before.

As the years went by, Pharma practices like GxP/GMP and manufacturing related IT Systems and its impact on Pharma organisation had grown on me as an IT Professional.

This article will help for any new joiner to Pharma industry from different domain to have bird’s eye view on IT landscape.

Like any manufacturing organisation, Pharma also uses DCS/DAS & SCADA systems to have proper monitoring, control, maintenance and record keeping of manufacturing equipments performance.

Then next layer comes, which is termed as MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems), which tightly integrates with all DCS/DAS & SCADA kind of engineering systems/Instrumentations to give useful data to Plant teams on increasing production efficiency. This MES systems also helps in digitilization of manufacturing process and helps in Single pane view of all Manufacturing facilities and its performance. Werum PAS|X & Rockwell are offering these softwares in MES vertical.

Next critical system to look at is Chromatography Data Systems, which helps in simulation of samples and find impurities and foresee the stability and efficacy of the finished drugs. OEMs like Waters, Agilent & Chromeleon give top solutions in this vertical.

ELN/LIMS is being used to digitize the lab related paperwork and helps the scientists in R&D and QA/QC teams in plants to work effectively. LIMS integrated with Empower(Waters) gives extra edge to the Quality workforce in Plants to discharge their duties effectively.

There are standalone instrument PCs like Tiamo and Weighing scale PCs & lyophilizer connected PCs which run as isolated systems which also assist regular plant operations.

Connecting all the IT Systems and creating a Data Lake provides, humungous insights and takeaways on how to continually improve production efficiency and Quality compliance in Pharma sphere. Digitalization start with connecting all these systems and gives immense confidence for Pharma companies to face any regulatory audits like USFDA & EMA.