The place of quality in the industry
The place of quality in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry
For pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies, two major texts govern quality and the way in which it must be applied: the Good Manufacturing Practices for pharmaceuticals (GMP) and cosmetics (ISO 22716 standard). These texts transcribe the European directives. They were created following major health scandals, which sounded the alarm and made it possible to regulate the manufacture of products.
Quality is a necessity to produce a medicine or a product that meets health requirements and patient/consumer expectations.
The quality department must always bear in mind that its work is based on three fundamental pillars: product effectiveness, quality of the finished product and patient/consumer safety. The aesthetic aspect of the goods is also essential for the cosmetic sector.
The benefit/risk balance must be constantly evaluated when analysing potential impacts on the product, to implement corrective and/or preventive actions to avoid a problem reappearing. Continuous improvement comes actively into play in the quality process and the sustainability of the actions implemented.
Quality in the pharmaceutical industry is not intended to serve the company or comply with specifications or regulations imposed by the state. Quality is a state of mind to adopt every day to protect patients/consumers. It is through this mindset that the degraded image of a rigid, heavy, and constraining quality will be swept away. It is an adaptable and transversal discipline, which must evolve to constantly improve and increase the overall quality of the products.
Quality is a real philosophy to put in place, so that each employee is an actor and understands his role is essential. The involvement of each employee is the key to a compliant product and customer satisfaction.
At Thépenier Pharma & Cosmetics, the application of this philosophy requires the unfailing involvement of the Quality team. The team goes daily to production, the aim being to establish a close relationship with the operators, to reinforce the principles of quality and make them more easily accessible, and at the same time, to confront them with the realities of the field. Because nothing is worse than a theoretical and dogmatic quality, disconnected from operational realities and professional standards.
These “field tours” are privileged moments to explain and remind the importance of each in the realization of a quality product, and to give meaning to the requests of the customers and to the work of the agents.
The quality team implements a proactive approach based on training, listening and availability to encourage the appropriate reflexes. This philosophy is also transmitted through our reactivity to respond to requests, which creates a relationship of trust.