ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF LEAN PRODUCTION IN LINE WITH GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY?

The pharmaceutical industry is a process industry and is based on the principles of Good Manufacturing Practice which sets out important guidelines especially in terms of quality output. On the first hand it would appear that these practices are in line with principles of lean production, which is also based on the superior quality thereby eliminating stocks and other discards. However, lean production is primarily developed for the discreate part industry and production in small series, which shows that it is not fully applicable in the pharmaceutical industry, so there is a question can lean be applied to pharmaceutical industry primarily due to the long journey of raw materials and better bargaining power of suppliers who insist on larger shipments. Therefore, the work explains in detail and shows where it is posible, and where not to introduce the principles of lean manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry.