Title: Maximising return on investment (ROI) for pharmaceutical production

Authors: Sameh A. Ibrahim; Noha A. Mostafa

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, Industrial Engineering Department, Zagazig University, Egypt. ' Faculty of Engineering, Industrial Engineering Department, Zagazig University, Egypt

Abstract: Production scheduling tools close the gap between ERP/MRP II tools and the plant floor. Simulation can be used to generate production schedules on an ongoing basis in a way that does not violate constraints related to the limited availability. In this paper, the process of tablet manufacturing in a pharmaceutical production plant is studied, first the full process is described and mapped, and then a process simulation is run. Based on the simulation results, statistical analysis is performed; the data is fitted by using regression analysis. Design of experiment (DOE) analysis is performed on the process to try many different combinations of resource levels automatically, and finally analysis of variance (ANOVA) is performed to select infeasible products that can be excluded from future production plans, this will have a positive effect on the return on investment for the organisation.

Keywords: pharmaceuticals; pharmaceutical industry; process mapping; simulation; design of experiments; DOE; analysis of variance; ANOVA; production scheduling; tablet manufacturing; production planing; return on investment; ROI.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2011.046768

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2011 Vol.24 No.1/2/3/4, pp.167 - 181

Published online: 27 Nov 2014 *

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