A new study by Best Practices LLC contains performance metrics from which pharmaceutical companies can perform gap analyses to assess manufacturing performance and identify improvement opportunities. “Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Cost, Staffing & Utilization Metrics,” contains the following findings:

• Capacity utilization is a key driver in cost management and production efficiency. Those facilities getting the most out of their equipment tend to perform better in solid dose and injectables productions.
• Too much variety in product types can lead to under-used equipment, and diluted management, maintenance and quality focus. For many companies, focusing on one type of manufacturing process, or a limited line of products, yields significant efficiency, economy of scale and a fine-tuned operation.
• Most manufacturers reported only average degrees of automation in their facilities. One company with a high degree of automation reported considerably better maintenance cost, headcount and overtime performance—compared to that of other benchmark partners.

“A solid understanding of manufacturing costs among world-class companies is the first step in evaluating a company’s own current practices,” says Chris Bogan, Best Practices LLC CEO.

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