What Are Good Manufacturing Practices
What Are Good Manufacturing Practices
What Are Good Manufacturing Practices
medicines, car parts, cosmetics, and food. When products have to be recalled, this can cast doubt in the minds
of consumers, which is why prevention is so important. Here's what you need to know.
Manufacturers need to do everything they can to foster the trust they are given, and take the necessary steps
to keep it. One way to do that is by implementing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
GMP looks at every aspect of the manufacturing process to guard against potential risks that can prove
detrimental to the products being produced. Cross-contamination, mislabeling, and adulteration are just a few
of the things GMP aims to prevent.
The FDA regulates the Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP), and therefore requires companies to
abide by their specified guidelines. They are considered "Current" because, as new information is discovered,
the Good Manufacturing Practices released by the government will change to reflect the new finding(s).
These Practices are made to be flexible, to better allow companies to adjust them to fit their specific needs.
However, to meet the GMP and CGMP guidelines, certain areas still have to be met accordingly.
Good Manufacturing Practices in food industry manufacturers are especially vital these days, due to the
increasing number of food recalls occurring. Consumers have become increasingly aware of food safety and
expect companies to take steps to increase their accountability, and provide them with safe products that will
not get recalled.
1. QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Quality management is a principle that focuses on ensuring that manufactured products are fit for their
intended use. For food, this means ensuring that the food meets the FDA's food safety and quality measures.
So, there should be no raw, expired, or improperly processed products that can potentially harm consumers or
cause contamination.
2. SANITATION AND HYGIENE
In terms of Good Manufacturing Practices, there is nothing more vital than sanitation and hygiene,
particularly for drug, cosmetic, and food manufacturers. This covers anything that can lead to contamination,
if proper hygiene and sanitation is not practiced. One step a facility can take to ensure proper sanitation and
hygiene is to install a food-grade stainless Slot Drain drainage system. Slot Drain is a grate-free in- loor drain
that is resistant to things like extreme temperatures, corrosion, and bacteria. It comes pre-sloped and pre-
assembled, making it easy to install and maintain, and it is an ideal addition to manufacturing facilities.
Similar to the location requirements, any equipment within the facility should be designed, located, and
maintained to function as intended. All equipment should also be regularly cleaned and stored according to
the proper procedures, and removed if found defective or malfunctioning.
5. RAW MATERIALS
Any materials for production are required to be stored appropriately. Furthermore, a proper inventory of the
raw materials the facility has in stock should be available and updated regularly, as well as documentation of
where the materials come from, to ensure quality.
6. PERSONNEL
Naturally, successful GMP compliance relies heavily on facility personnel. Everyone who works for the
facility should be well-trained and qualified to do their assigned job. They should have a clear awareness of
the various GMP principles and receive continual training, so they are always up-to-date with their job skills
and what is expected by the FDA.
Another step that goes into Good Manufacturing Practices in all facilities are inspections and quality audits.
By regularly conducting inspections and audits, facilities can ensure that they are properly complying with
the GMP. These checks will also help to keep the facility from forgetting to follow the guidelines; otherwise,
they will be hit with serious consequences.
COMPLYING WITH GMP
Now you know about Good Manufacturing Practices and why they are essential. Regardless of the type of
manufacturing facility, GMP is a critical part of running a high-quality facility. By being GMP compliant,
facilities make a strong effort to create a safe, high-quality, and sanitary environment to create safe and high-
quality products for consumers. They are standards to strive for, particularly for facilities producing products
that people consume, like pharmaceuticals and, of course, food.