Darragh McMorrow

CDMOs (contract development and manufacturing organisations) and CMOs (contract manufacturing organisations) have been a feature of the life sciences sector for many decades. However, this part of the sector is changing and growing, making externalisation an even more critical element of worldwide pharmaceutical and medical device development and production. A lot of the change taking …

Externalisation in the Life Sciences Sector Through the Growth of CDMOs and CMOs Read More »

Manufacturing in the life sciences sector is dominated by large-volume, high-speed production facilities where business models are based on economies of scale. This approach has served the sector and society very well over the past decades, especially in the developed world. Now, however, there is increasing interest, research, and innovation in a different form of …

Mobile Manufacturing in the Life Sciences Sector – Opportunities, Risks, & Challenges Read More »

Considerable progress has been made in the development of cell and gene therapies (CGTs) over recent years. Many new CGT products have already been approved by regulators in the US, EU, and other parts of the world, and many more are in development. The most exciting part is the improvements in patient outcomes that CGTs …

Overcoming the Manufacturing Challenges of Cell and Gene Therapies Read More »

The life sciences sector continues to grow as new therapies, drugs, and products are developed. New manufacturing and business technologies are also driving change in the sector, as are ever-evolving regulations and best practice guidelines. So, where is the sector heading? Here are nine game-changing trends in the life sciences sector to be aware of: …

9 Game-Changing Trends in the Life Sciences Sector Read More »

Most pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers have implemented new technologies and processes over the past number of years that would come under the smart manufacturing umbrella. You are probably also now considering the next stage on your journey. What are the smart manufacturing solutions and opportunities that you should explore next? There are a number …

Smart Manufacturing Considerations for Pharma and MedTech Manufacturers Read More »

Often when discussions take place around Industry 4.0, they revolve around technologies. In other words, how technologies like cloud computing, robotics, AI, digital simulations, autonomous vehicles, data analytics, etc are creating opportunities for manufacturers to move into the Industry 4.0 era. Industry 4.0 is about much more than technologies, however. Instead, it is about digitally …

Industry 4.0 and the Importance of Technology, Executive Support, and Skills Alignment Read More »

Industry 4.0 technologies allow your business to improve efficiency, enhance the service you offer to customers, and increase profitability in your current manufacturing operations. These are compelling reasons for developing and implementing an Industry 4.0 strategy. Industry 4.0 is about more than enhancing and improving your business operations, though. The technologies, processes, and ways of …

The Impact of Industry 4.0 on New Business Opportunities in Pharma and MedTech Read More »

How far is your business along the path to becoming a smart factory? Are you increasing your investment in Smart Factory initiatives and projects? Given the competitiveness of the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, and the rapid pace of change, these are important questions to answer. Understanding the scale and nature of the benefits that …

Smart Factory Benefits for Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturers Read More »

Digital transformation is now an everyday reality in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing companies. New and developing technologies create opportunities for digital transformation to take place, but the main driver is strategic planning and decision-making. In other words, senior executives in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries are increasingly prioritising digital transformation. There are good …

Digital Transformation in Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturing Companies Read More »

At SL Controls, we are a vendor-neutral solution provider to the pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing industries. We can work with equipment, platforms, software, and systems from any vendor. In addition, we are not tied to specific vendors when we recommend equipment or platforms to purchase. The benefits of using a vendor-neutral software provider like …

Infographic – Benefits of Using a Vendor-Neutral Solution Provider Read More »

One of the growing trends in the medical device industry is customised products for individual patients. An example is an implant designed specifically for an individual patient. A range of technologies make products like this possible, including new additive manufacturing technologies. Furthermore, customised medical device products offer significant benefits to patients. There are benefits to …

Where Do We Stand with the New EU MDR, Additive Manufacturing, and Customised Medical Devices? Read More »

The clock is well as truly ticking on the introduction of the new EU MDR (Medical Device Regulations). The process of implementing this new EU directive started in 2017, with it scheduled to come into force on 26 May 2020, i.e. less than a year from now. EU MDR represents a significant change to regulations …

The UDI and Serialisation Requirements of the New EU MDR Read More »

Unplanned downtime caused by equipment or machine breakdown costs money and eats into your profits. Modern technology provides a solution that offers significant improvements compared to other methods that are used to maintain machines and prevent unplanned downtime. That solution is predictive maintenance. In other words, using real-time data to predict in advance when a …

How You Can Increase Profits by Moving from Planned to Predictive Maintenance Read More »

Manufacturing technologies are advancing at a faster rate than ever before. In such a fast-paced and busy environment, it can be hard to cut through the information and noise to get to what really matters and what will really make a difference. In other words, the things that will improve your competitiveness in the marketplace …

7 Industry 4.0 Trends that Will Influence Manufacturing in 2019 Read More »

Cybersecurity, system security, and information security are challenges faced by all industries and sectors. For the manufacturing sector, these challenges are particularly acute, especially in relation to industrial automation control systems. The threats to industrial automation control systems are varied: Targeted external attack to deliberately hinder production Targeted external attack to impact the state or …

Security Challenges of Industrial Automation Control Systems Read More »

Industrial automation control systems are becoming increasingly crucial to manufacturing in a range of sectors. They are often viewed as technical solutions, however, they come under the remit of the senior engineering team at the coalface. The fact is, though, industrial automation control systems impact the wider enterprise, which means they can significantly improve your …

Industrial Automation Control Systems and How They Improve Businesses Read More »

If you run a manufacturing facility, you need to know the difference between digitisation and digitalisation (or digitization and digitalization if you are reading this in the US). The difference is crucial to understanding Industry 4.0, plus it will help you develop strategies to transition your facilities into smart factories. The difference between the two …

Digitisation and Digitalisation – You Need to Know the Difference Read More »

You don’t have to look very far on the SL Controls’ website or any other material we produce to see we are vendor neutral. What does being vendor neutral mean, however? More importantly, what benefits does vendor neutrality bring to your business? What Does Being Vendor-Neutral Mean? Vendor neutrality is both a business approach and …

Importance of Being Vendor Neutral Read More »

Industry 4.0 is the undeniable buzzword in manufacturing at the moment. After all, it is easy to understand the potential benefits and get excited by the prospect of the smart factory. Making your plant part of the fourth industrial revolution, however, is much easier said than done. It is such a massive topic, in fact, …

Industry 4.0 – A Realistic Pathway to the Smart Factory Read More »

Successfully Managing a Consistent Supply of Contingent Workers There are a huge number of challenges associated with the successful management of non-permanent contingent workers. The high turnover rate of contingent workers has long been a thorny issue. At SL Controls, we have found a perfect balance and an excellent solution to retaining a contented workforce …

Blog: Valuing and Retaining Contingent Workers Read More »