Handbook of Investigation and Effective CAPA Systems


Book Description

Worldwide regulatory agencies perform many inspections annually, and all too often investigation and CAPA system violations are at the top of the list of infractions. Life-sciences regulated companies (not only FDA-regulated ones) must ensure their investigation and CAPA systems look beyond the ‘usual suspects' to identify other quality issues in order to minimize risks (including safe ones) and reduce costs. Enhancements to this third edition include: A new section linking the investigation and CAPA programs with the overall quality culture of the company Fully updated, current versions of regulations including U.S. FDA, EU, ISO 9001, and ISO 13485 Updated inspectional observations from the U.S. FDA and U.K. MHRA A revised investigation and CAPA processes chapter, which has an improved barrier analysis section, including detailed flowcharts describing the barrier analysis process New charts and information related to the investigation of human errors; the human factor section includes information about training and competence A new chapter devoted to analytical laboratory investigations, including a section covering the invalidation of testing results Updated forms and examples of the different elements of the investigation and CAPA plan, including new case studies; a revised diagnostic tool used for investigating human error Jose(Pepe) Rodrguez-Perez, PhD, is president of Business Excellence Consulting, Inc., (BEC), a Puerto Rico-based, consulting, training, and remediation firm that focuses on the areas of regulatory compliance, FDA-regulatory training, and risk management. He is a biologist with a doctoral degree in biology from the University of Granada (Spain). Over his career, he has served as an educator, a technical services manager, and as a science advisor to the FDA.







Process Monitoring and Improvement Handbook


Book Description

The concept of process monitoring and improvement applies to any type of industry: automotive, textiles, food, pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices, electronics, aerospace, banking, educational institutions, service providers, and so on. The focus of this book is to identify and apply different process monitoring and improvement tools in any organization. This book is aimed at engineers, scientists, analysts, technicians, managers, supervisors, and all other professionals responsible to measure and improve the quality of their processes. Many times, these professionals do not have a formal education on the use of these tools but learn about them throughout the different improvement projects in which they are involved in their work environment. This book is intended to fill the gap between the lack of formal education in the tools and the need to implement those tools in an improvement project. The book can also be used as a refresher course for those professionals who did learn about these tools as part of their educational background.




Human Error Reduction in Manufacturing


Book Description

For many years, we considered human errors or mistakes as the cause of mishaps or problems. In the manufacturing industries, human error, under whatever label (procedures not followed, lack of attention, or simply error), was the conclusion of any quality problem investigation. The way we look at the human side of problems has evolved during the past few decades. Now we see human errors as the symptoms of deeper causes. In other words, human errors are consequences, not causes. The basic objective of this book is to provide readers with useful information on theories, methods, and specific techniques that can be applied to control human failure. It is a book of ideas, concepts, and examples from the manufacturing sector. It presents a comprehensive overview of the subject, focusing on the practical application of the subject, specifically on the human side of quality and manufacturing errors. In other words, the primary focus of this book is human failure, including its identification, its causes, and how it can be reasonably controlled or prevented in the manufacturing industry setting. In addition to including a detailed discussion of human error (the inadvertent or involuntary component of human failure), a chapter is devoted to analysis and discussion related to voluntary (intentional) noncompliance. Written in a direct style, using simple industry language with abundant applied examples and practical references, this book's insights on human failure reduction will improve individual, organizational, and social well-being.




Quality Risk Management in the FDA-Regulated Industry


Book Description

Risk management principles are effectively utilized in many areas of business and government, including finance, insurance, occupational safety, and public health, and by agencies regulating these industries. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its worldwide counterparts are responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the drugs and medical devices. Regulators must decide whether the benefits of a specific product for patients and users outweigh its risk, while recognizing that “absolute safety” (or zero risk) is not achievable. Every product and every process has an associated risk. Although there are some examples of the use of quality risk management in the FDA-regulated industry today, they are limited and do not represent the full contribution that risk management has to offer. The present FDA focus on risk-based determination is requiring that the regulated industries improve dramatically their understanding and capability of hazard control concepts. In addition, the importance of quality systems has been recognized in the life sciences industry, and it is becoming evident that quality risk management is a valuable component of an effective quality system. The purpose of this book is to offer a systematic and very comprehensive approach to quality risk management. It will assist medical and food product manufacturers with the integration of a risk management system or risk management principles and activities into their existing quality management system by providing practical explanations and examples. The appropriate use of quality risk management can facilitate compliance with regulatory requirements such as good manufacturing practices or good laboratory practices. The content of this book will provide FDA-regulated manufacturers with a framework within which experience, insight, and judgment are applied systematically to manage the risks associated with their products. Manufacturers in other industries may use it as an informative guidance in developing and maintaining a risk management system and process. The two appendices add even more insight: Appendix A contains general examples of risk management, while Appendix B includes 10 case studies illustrating real examples of the quality risk management process across the medical product arena.




Human Error Reduction in Manufacturing


Book Description

For many years, we considered human errors or mistakes as the cause of mishaps or problems. In the manufacturing industries, human error, under whatever label (procedures not followed, lack of attention, or simply error), was the conclusion of any quality problem investigation. The way we look at the human side of problems has evolved during the past few decades. Now we see human errors as the symptoms of deeper causes. In other words, human errors are consequences, not causes. The basic objective of this book is to provide readers with useful information on theories, methods, and specific techniques that can be applied to control human failure. It is a book of ideas, concepts, and examples from the manufacturing sector. It presents a comprehensive overview of the subject, focusing on the practical application of the subject, specifically on the human side of quality and manufacturing errors. In other words, the primary focus of this book is human failure, including its identification, its causes, and how it can be reasonably controlled or prevented in the manufacturing industry setting. In addition to including a detailed discussion of human error (the inadvertent or involuntary component of human failure), a chapter is devoted to analysis and discussion related to voluntary (intentional) noncompliance. Written in a direct style, using simple “industry” language with abundant applied examples and practical references, this book’s insights on human failure reduction will improve individual, organizational, and social well-being.




Safety Risk Management for Medical Devices


Book Description

Safety Risk Management for Medical Devices, Second Edition teaches the essential safety risk management methodologies for medical devices compliant with the requirements of ISO 14971:2019. Focusing exclusively on safety risk assessment practices required in the MedTech sector, the book outlines sensible, easily comprehensible, state-of the-art methodologies that are rooted in current industry best practices, addressing safety risk management of medical devices, thus making it useful for those in the MedTech sector who are responsible for safety risk management or need to understand risk management, including design engineers, product engineers, development engineers, software engineers, Quality assurance and regulatory affairs. Graduate-level engineering students with an interest in medical devices will also benefit from this book. The new edition has been fully updated to reflect the state-of-the-art in this fast changing field. It offers guidance on developing and commercializing medical devices in line with the most current international standards and regulations. - Includes new coverage of ISO 14971:2019, ISO/TR 24971 - Presents the latest information on the history of risk management, lifetime of a medical device, risk management review, production and post production activities, post market risk management - Provides practical, easy-to-understand and state-of the-art methodologies that meet the requirements of international regulation




Advanced Product Quality Planning


Book Description

This book defines, develops, and examines the foundations of the APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) methodology. It explains in detail the five phases, and it relates its significance to national, international, and customer specific standards. It also includes additional information on the PPAP (Production Part Approval Process), Risk, Warranty, GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing), and the role of leadership as they apply to the continual improvement process of any organization. Features Defines and explains the five stages of APQP in detail Identifies and zeroes in on the critical steps of the APQP methodology Covers the issue of risk as it is defined in the ISO 9001, IATF 16949, the pending VDA, and the OEM requirements Presents the role of leadership and management in the APQP methodology Summarizes all of the change requirements of the IATF standard




Quality Risk Management in the FDA-Regulated Industry


Book Description

The purpose of this new edition is to offer an updated view of the risk management field as it applies to medical products. Since the publication of the first edition (2012), the emphasis on risk-based processes has growth exponentially across all sectors, and risk management is now considered as significant as quality management. ISO 9001 was revised and now requires that top management promote the use of risk-based thinking. ISO 13485:2016, which specifies the requirements for a quality management system specific to the medical devices industry, also now shows a greater emphasis on risk management and risk-based decision making. In addition, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is the most important reform of U.S. food safety laws in more than 70 years. This indispensable book presents a systematic and comprehensive approach to quality risk management. It will assist medical and food product manufacturers with the integration of a risk management system or risk management principles and activities into their existing quality management system by providing practical explanations and examples. The appropriate use of quality risk management can facilitate compliance with regulatory requirements such as good manufacturing practice or good laboratory practice. All chapters have been updated and revised, and a new chapter has been added to discuss some of the most common pitfalls and misunderstandings regarding risk management, specifically those related to the use of FMEA as the only element of risk management programs. One of the appendices includes 12 case studies, and the companion CD-ROM contains dozens of U.S. FDA and European guidance documents as well as international harmonization documents (ICH and GHTF-IMDRF) related to risk management activities, as well as a 30-question exam (with answers) on the material discussed in the book.




Managing Organizational Risk Using the Supplier Audit Program


Book Description

Risk elimination. Risk management. Risk mitigation. These terms are an increasingly important part of the lexicon of executive-level management as they strive to succeed in a business environment having global competition, geographically diverse suppliers, and new technologies. In this new, globally expansive marketplace, more than 50 percent of value creation is achieved outside of an organization’s walls, or, in other words, through their suppliers. This, too, is where the majority of product realization risk lies. This book defines what risk-based thinking is and how to apply it from the perspective of helping manage organizational risk through the supplier audit process. It provides a detailed and useful discussion of the practical application of risk-based supplier auditing principles. It can be a primer for those new to the profession of supplier auditing, and it also shares tips and best practices that would benefit experienced auditors as well. The first section explores supplier management, supplier auditing, and the supplier audit process. The second section discusses the skills, both traditional and nontraditional, needed to ensure a successful supplier audit. Relevant aspects of ASQ’s Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) and Certified Supplier Quality Professional (CSQP) Bodies of Knowledge are discussed in detail. The author’s friends and colleagues from around the globe shared their own stories in “Case in Point” vignettes interspersed throughout the book, providing first-hand case studies from, among others, the medical device, logistics, automotive, and aerospace industries.