Paradigm shift for Manufacturing industry

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The 21st century is seeinga 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 regulatorynorms and enhanced safety requirements, they will miss the mark" said 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 percent 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 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 J. P. 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 Venkat Jasti.

Source: India PRwire