There are several new challenges around the pharma fill/finish operation:
– Rising risk of mix-ups calling for longer, complex and highly costly changeover
– Tackling drug shortage issue
– Meeting regulators’ requirements for increased traceability during the manufacturing process
– Successfully implementing the digital-and-analytics transformation (Industry 4.0 / Pharma 4.0™) to ensure business survival.
Serialization of primary containers using RFID technology is intended to address drug mix-ups, automate reconciliation and bring visibility in the fill-and-finish process that will eventually help reduce scrap rate and improve the Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE).
BD has selected RFID technology for prefillable syringes based on the relatively low impact on existing manufacturing lines and the high potential for future applications. BD has conducted a proof of concept and is able to demonstrate the feasibility through a video of BD’s RFID Demonstration Lab.