The 21st century is seeing a paradigm shift for Indian Manufacturing industry. Companies looking at local markets are now aiming to be connected with Global markets. "To reach out to newer markets and alliances and business opportunities, company's are faced with the hard fact that unless they improve their return on investments, comply with tough regulatory norms and enhanced safety requirements, they will miss the mark" said Mr J P Singh, President, Automation Industry Association(AIA), while speaking at PharmaTech 2008.
PharmaTech 2008, was organised by the Automation Industry Association, to demonstrate to the Indian Pharmaceutical industry about the benefits of leveraging cutting edge automation technologies and responding to the emerging business environment. The symposium brought together leading Automation process & solution providers on a common platform, discussing industry specific challenges of operational excellence, global regulatory and certification requirement, integrated performance management, manufacturing and automation risks and return on assets.
The Indian Pharmaceutical market which today stands at fourth largest in terms of volume and thirteenth in terms of value has achieved over 7% growth, making its presence felt in the global market primarily through its focus on global generics markets. With many governments encouraging the shift to generics on the back of rising pressure on healthcare budgets, coupled with a significant number of drugs going off patent, Indian pharma companies are now pursuing aggressive strategies to foray new and under-served markets such as Japan, South Africa, EU and CIS countries and Latin America. The Indian Biotech industry too has crossed US$ 2 billion and is projected to be US$ 5 billion by year 2010. While automation started and progressed slowly in Pharmaceutical Industry, it has come to play an increasingly important role in keeping the industry moving ahead.
"Pharma companies are likely to take different steps forward as they reshape their strategies and infrastructure to prepare for future developments, but the starting point has to be the vision of where the company wants to be in 10 to 15 years time and how this will impact manufacturing methods and practices' said Mr Venkat Jasti, Chairman Pharmexcil & VC CEO Suven Life Sciences Limited.
"Companies which earlier were competing with each other with stand-alone equipment, lower production costs, and a market scenario where markets were defined by products are now looking at a new era in manufacturing. Competition is today in terms of value chains, with a lot more emphasis on time and delivery cost to market. Manufacturing firms have to look at a scenario where they have to sense the customers need and respond immediately. Integrated automation in this situation has become a must rather than a mere requirement" added Mr Singh.
Operational effectiveness, profit pressures require manufacturing to contribute and the industry has to work together to enable a compliant manufacturing environment that delivers product to plan with minimal cost and risk. The role of automation technologies is thus crucial in facilitating processes that enable measurement and control, ensure optimum efficiency and increase productivity. Automation is also the key in maintaining consistency & quality and conforming to safety, environmental and a host of other stringent regulatory standards.
"Automation is required to unlock full value of the Business Chain by connecting plant floor to business system , and connectivity to the business system from R&D, through Clinical trial to Commercial Manufacturing" continued Mr Jasti.
Supporting Partner:
Program Details
Welcome Address by J P Singh, President, AIA
Automation enabled global business integration by VENKAT JASTI, Chairman, PHARMEXCIL and VC & CEO, Suven Life Sciences Ltd.
Automation Strategy for Integrated lines in Bulk API industry by DEBADEEP MUKHERJEE, Associate Director, Dr Reddys
Enabling operational excellence through automation by SATHI KANNAN, Marketing Director, Emerson Process Management
Emerging trends in Biopharma and benefits of automation by DR. A.P.KARIATH, President, Biozeen
Process Analytical Technology (PAT) Guidelines by RAMESH P LALA, Director, Klenzaids Contamination Controls (P) Ltd.
User experience in deploying automation for implementing PAT by UDAYKUMAR K. RAKIBE, Director (QA), Ranbaxy
Automation solutions with GAMP compliance by PHILIPP ZUMOBERHAUS, Head Engineering, Endress+Hauser Product Center Process Solutions, Switzerland
User Case Study – Driving process decisions through automation by Dr. VIKRAM PARADKAR, VP Process Development, Reliance Lifesciences
Business Process Improvement by ANTHONY V SOLLAZO, Lifesciences Solutions Manager, Rockwell, Asia Pacific
Track and Trace for e-pedigree compliance by ARUN T. DIVAKARAN, Domain Consultant (Pharma Manufacturing), Siemens Information Systems Ltd.