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   2. Systems in pharmaceutical manufacture
All systems have these three elements:

In this chapter, we will look at:
The manufacturing system
The first system we can consider is the whole manufacturing process.

Graphic of system

It has each of the three elements, which break down as follows:

The inputs include (in no particular order):

  • data on diseases
  • specification for the new medicine
  • money (capital) to pay for energy, equipment, raw materials and employees
  • expertise of the workforce
  • the technology required to make the product - precision machinery
  • raw materials
  • energy source
  • training requirements of the workforce
  • policies that govern what is allowed (e.g. the regulations from the Medicines Control Agency).
Photo of primary production
Picture 2.1 Primary production.
The processes include (in no particular order):
  • the manufacturing cycle itself - converting raw materials into medicines
  • production systems - the layout of the factory and how equipment is grouped and linked
  • checking system to ensure the medicine is being made to specification
  • the scale of production - how much medicine is produced and at what rate
  • whether products are manufactured continuously, or in small or large batches
  • organisation of the company to maximise productivity and profitability
  • control of 'quality' of the medicines.
The outputs include (in no particular order):
  • the medicines themselves - for example packets of tablets or tubes of cream
  • by-products as waste - the amount and type of this will vary according to the product; many organisations now recycle this waste
  • the means of storing and transporting the medicines to be distributed and sold.
Question 2

Look at the items below. In each case, decide whether it is an input, a process or an output. Make your choices using the drop down menus.

Item what is it?
a) checking system
b) a batch of tablets
c) cardboard carton material
d) sealing blister packs
e) the chemical formula of aspirin