Discerning consumers of products expect that once they have landed on a brand they like, then the qualities that make it appealing will continue with each subsequent purchase. In other words, they have confidence that the product in question — perishable or non-perishable — is the result of a consistent, repeatable process of creation. Somebody, somewhere, prescribed a process by which components or ingredients are arranged, combined and presented as a unique output. Selling a drug or food or device that tastes or performs differently upon each use would be a fraud on the public and simply bad for business.
What Are Good Management Practices (GMP)?
Good management practices, or GMP, refers to a framework by which food, pharmaceuticals or cosmetic items are made and regulated according to a definitive set of specifications. Adhering to GMP, manufacturers assure their customers of consistency in quality and safety. GMP cover a wide range of activities from raw material acquisition and evaluation; structures and equipment; waste disposal and hygiene; and personnel eligibility to areas like record-keeping and documentation; customer service management; and quality control audits. These protocols will of course look different according to industry but are nevertheless applicable to most.
Common GMP Principles
Across a broad range of commercial production businesses, there are several widely accepted guidelines to which all submit.
1. Formulate a set of Standard Operating Procedures — Once the best ways of production are identified, it makes sense to record them and repeat them when the other variables remain the same. Changes in the SOP may become necessary as technology and circumstances change.
2. Follow the SOP consistently — It is replicating the protocols time and again that makes a product reliable and its production more efficient.
3. Validate the SOP on a regular basis — i.e. demonstrate the competence of personnel; the dependability of equipment; and the accuracy of analyses to build confidence and identify flaws.
4. Random Auditing — Unannounced audits that occur irregularly play an integral role in ferreting out areas of non-compliance and correcting them.
5. Compliance Training — Educating employees about GMP standards makes regular compliance much more likely. It also allows for continual performance improvement. This training should center on keeping records and reports; operating machinery safely; and adopting proper sanitation procedures.
6. Safety and efficiency checks on all equipment — Breakdowns and malfunctions affect an organization more adversely than frequent monitoring and regular maintenance,
7. Recruitment and retention of qualified employees — Not all staffers need years of experience but what they lack in seasoning, they should possess in aptitude and teachability. GMP here demands strong evaluation and training protocols.
8. Integrity of products –Key to a successful and quality output is protection against contamination, breakage or spoilage. Sustaining the final product intact is an important GMP component.
9. Document every step in the manufacturing sequence — This measure not only assures accountability and responsibility, but also reveals necessary information in the event a procedural post-mortem is in order.
10. Ensure excellence in production, logistics and transport — The entire process from the beginnings of synthesis to delivery to customers should be part of a complete plan that adds value to the product and a good reputation for the brans.
A leading maker of water ionization devices, Tyent USA follows GMP for every generator, filter and accessory it makes. In so doing, it builds trust with those to whom it serves and the general public at large.