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Measuring the performance of quality assurance processes: pharmaceutical industry deviation management case study

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Abstract

This article presents experience from the practice of a successful pharmaceutical company related to design and implementation of performance measures (PMs) for deviation management linked to the analysis of impact on the production cost for the selected product. Case study focuses on PMs within good manufacturing practice (GMP) processes related to quality assurance (QA) and quality management, with the aim of complying with its future requirements proposed by the European Commission. Critical areas were identified based on data gathered from the industrial deviation database. Implementation of the suggested corrective actions showed significant improvement in terms of reducing their number for more than 50% per selected deviation category. The results obtained in the course of this practice-oriented study contribute to further improvement of deviation management in the pharmaceutical industry and performance measurement of other GMP processes. The suggested performance measurement concept and problem-solving techniques may serve both practitioners and the decision-makers within QA and quality control (QC) in order to improve their processes by implementing relevant regulatory requirements for quality management and maintain compliance.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Hemofarm, Serbia and the Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia for the support (project TR 21006 and 34009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hemofarm A.D. Beogradski put bb, 26300, Vrsac, Serbia

    Zorana Boltic, Nenad Ruzic & Slobodan Petrovic

  2. Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Mica Jovanovic & Slobodan Petrovic

Authors
  1. Zorana Boltic
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  2. Nenad Ruzic
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  3. Mica Jovanovic
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  4. Slobodan Petrovic
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Correspondence to Zorana Boltic.

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Boltic, Z., Ruzic, N., Jovanovic, M. et al. Measuring the performance of quality assurance processes: pharmaceutical industry deviation management case study. Accred Qual Assur 15, 629–636 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-010-0709-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-010-0709-2

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