Dessau-Rosslau (Germany), March 14, 2022 – IDT Biologika, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specialized in vaccines, gene and immunotherapy as well as biologics, is embarking Industry 4.0 and the fully networked automated pharmaceutical production and has put Körber’s Werum PAS-X MES into operation at its main facility in Dessau, Germany, as an important milestone.
The central requirements of the digitization project were the replacement of paper-based production documentation and logbooks with electronic batch recording. The data exchange between ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and MES (Manufacturing Execution System) should be automated. Most of the requirements were met through the standard implementation of PAS-X MES. Customizations were reduced to a minimum by adapting the IDT processes to the software.
“Werum PAS-X MES plays an important role in our digitization strategy”, says Dr. Martin Wesseling, Director Technical Operations Head MES / EBR at IDT Biologika. “Due to the increasing digitization and automation of our processes, we can significantly reduce the batch throughput and record times, thus achieving a good right-first-time factor and high delivery reliability. We successfully avoid manual effort and errors, for example in batch preparation, documentation and archiving.”
The packaging department, where many processes have already been standardized, is a pioneer in the introduction of the digital manufacturing execution system at IDT. Customers also appreciate the innovation, because many of them work with the PAS-X MES system themselves and know that such a system delivers reliable quality. “It is definitely a customer magnet. In my eyes, the MES is one the biggest digitization projects at IDT and the most important project for us in packaging, which we are currently successfully completing“, says Frank Föhrigen, Head of Packaging at IDT.
The biggest advantage of working with such a system is that human error is virtually eliminated. “We deliver highest quality and give customers confidence in our processes. They expect us to have systems that prevent us from making mistakes. And now we have chosen one with Körber, which is the top of the line. It’s the best we can have”, adds Frank Föhrigen.
PAS-X MES is currently used in the packaging area. In a next step, the MES is to be deployed in the production area drug substances and drug product including filling processes and visual inspection. In addition, an automated exchange of information between PAS-X MES and the production systems on level 2 will be implemented.