In Process Check, Purpose :
In Process Check, To set up a general guideline for in-process checking that will be followed during the course of manufacturing. This SOP also includes handling of IPC parameters failure during production.
In Process Check, Scope :
This procedure is applicable to all Production activities such as Manufacturing, Packing and warehouse department at XX Pharmaceuticals Limited (Both General and Sterile Block).
Definitions / Abbreviation:
[][]SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
[][]QA: Quality Assurance
Responsibilities:
[][]The roles and responsibility is as follows:
Executive, Quality Assurance
[][]To ensure that this procedure is followed.
[][]To maintain the records properly as per SOP.
Manager, Quality Assurance
[][]To ensure that this procedure is kept up to date.
[][]To arrange training on the SOP to all concerned personnel.
[][]To ensure implementation of the SOP after training.
Manager, Quality Assurance
[][]Approval of the SOP.
Procedure: In Process Check
General Instruction:
[][]Check the general environment in the department
[][]Ensure proper gowning by the personnel in concerned work area.
[][]Check for the daily calibration of balance.
[][]Check the calibration status label of machines.
[][]Ensure that the line clearance is obtained before starting the next step.
[][]Ensure the destruction of all In-process, rejects, excess overprinted packing material after packing.
[][]Ensure that the every stage of process, appropriate status label is affixed on equipment /machines and containers.
[][]Non Assurance shall be reported immediately to concerned department Head.
[][]Ensure the completion of documentation at the end of each processing stage.
Warehouse Raw Material: In Process Check
=>Ensure line clearance before commencement of dispensing activity.
=>Ensure all the material having properly labeled.
=>Ensure that only “Quarantine” material is stored in quarantine area.
=>Ensure the transfer of Approved material in “Approved Area”.
=>Ensure that storage conditions of raw material are met.
Ensure the following points on Approved Quality Control labels.
=>Analytical Report Number.
=>Re-test date.
=>Ensure that the loose containers are properly closed after dispensing.
=>Ensure that the material is issued on FIFO basis.
=>Ensure that the environmental conditions are maintained in the respective areas.
=>Ensure that the details on dispensed material, material issues slip/dispensing slip are matching with Material Issuance form.
Warehouse Packaging Material:
[][]Ensure proper segregation of materials.
[][]Ensure proper disposal of the rejected items.
[][]Ensure that the material is issued on First In First Out (FIFO) basis.
Warehouse Finished (Drug) Product:
[][]Ensure that the products are dispatched only after QA release.
[][]Ensure the proper storage of goods.
[][]Ensure that “Quarantine” drug product are stored in quarantine area of Warehouse drug product
Parameter for In-process checking during Dispensing:
[][]Area cleanliness, absence of irrelevant/ foreign material.
[][]Equipment cleanliness.
[][]Cleaning record.
[][]Removal of material of previous batch/product from dispensing area.
[][]Balance calibration records, daily accuracy check/ function check of balance.
[][]Status label checking of raw materials prior to weigh.
[][]Weight checking of materials.
[][]Room temperature and Relative Humidity of Dispensing area.
Parameter for In-process checking during Manufacturing:
[][]Generally following parameters shall be checked during manufacturing of tablet/ capsule/ dry powder
[][]Area cleanliness, absence of irrelevant/ foreign material.
[][]Equipment/ machinery cleanliness.
[][]Cleaning record.
[][]Removal of material of previous batch/product from granulation/ compression/ blending/ encapsulation/filling area.
[][]Balance calibration records, daily accuracy check/ function check of balance.
[][]Room temperature and Relative Humidity of the granulation/ compression area (if applicable).
[][]Room display/ product display.
For Tablets:
[][]In Granulation Stage:
[][]Moisture
[][]Temperature (if applicable)
[][]Relative Humidity (if applicable)
In Compression Stage: In Process Check
[][]Appearance (Shape, Surface texture, Physical flaws, Consistency, Identification marking etc.)
[][]Average weight
[][]Uniformity of weight
[][]Relative Standard Deviation
[][]Hardness
[][]Thickness
[][]Diameter
[][]Friability
[][]Room temperature
[][]Relative Humidity (if applicable)
[][]Disintegration time
[][]Machine speed
[][]Organoleptic test (if applicable)
In Coating Stage:
[][]Appearance (Physical flaws)
[][]Average weight
[][]Disintegration time
[][]Weight gain/ coating loss
For Capsules:
[][]In Encapsulation Stage:
[][]Appearance (Color, Size, Identification marking)
[][]Average fill weight
[][]Uniformity of weight
[][]Disintegration time
[][]Relative Humidity of encapsulation room/ area
[][]Temperature of encapsulation room/ area
[][]Locking of capsule
For Powder for Suspension or Syrup:
[][]In Blending Stage:
[][]Relative Humidity of blending/ manufacturing area.
[][]Temperature of blending/ manufacturing area.
In Filling Stage:
[][]Appearance
[][]Relative Humidity of filling room/ area
[][]Temperature of filling room/ area
[][]For Kidney Dialysis Fluid
=>In Manufacturing Stage:
=>Relative Humidity of manufacturing area
=>Temperature of manufacturing area.
[][]In Filling Stage:
=>Uniformity of filling weight
=>pH of solution
=>Conductivity of solution
Checking procedure for IPC during manufacturing:
[][]Room Temperature and Relative Humidity:
[][]Room Temperature and Relative Humidity shall be checked by using Digital Hygrometer and the result shall be recorded in the Batch Manufacturing Record (BMR) in mentioned stage. Room Temperature and Relative Humidity shall be checked as per frequency specified in BMR/BPR.
Moisture:
[][]Moisture shall be checked by using Mettler Toledo balance following corresponding SOP and the result shall be recorded in the Batch Manufacturing Record (BMR) in mentioned stage.
Appearance:
[][]Parameters (as applicable for dosage form type) as mentioned below shall be checked during start-up and in every fifteen (15) minutes interval. About 500 coated tablets from each part shall be checked after completion of coating. Physical flaws of coated tablets shall be recorded in Coated Tablet Visual Inspection Record Sheet.
[][]Color/ Clarity
[][]Shape of tablet
[][]Identification marking
[][]Physical flows in case of capsule
Physical Flaws/ Acceptable Quality Level
[][]Uncoated Tablet
=>Critical Defects (Cracking, Capping/Lamination)/ 0.025%
=>Major Defects (Erosion, Picking/ Sticking)/ 0.25%
=>Minor Defects (Roughness, Illegible logo, Peeling)/ 1.5%
[][]Coated Tablet
=>Critical Defects (Cracking) / 0.025%
=>Major Defects (Blocking, Color Variation, Erosion, Picking/ Sticking) / 0.25%
=>Minor Defects (Twinning, Roughness, Peeling, Core Erosion, Loss of Logo Definition, Logo Bridging ) / 1.5%
The acceptable quality level of physical flaws of coated/ uncoated tablet are as follows:
[][]Weight:
Tablet:
[][]Weight of 05 composite samples, each of which consists of 10/20 tablets shall be checked during start-up and in every fifteen (15) minutes and the result shall comply with the specification as mentioned below:
=>If theoretical tablet weight is ≤80 mg then composite weight shall be in between ±4.0% of theoretical tablet weight.
=>If theoretical tablet weight is >80 mg or <250 mg then composite weight shall be in between ±3.0% of theoretical tablet weight.
=>If the theoretical tablet weight is >250 mg then composite weight shall be in between ±2.5% of theoretical tablet weight.
Capsule:
[][]Composite Fill weight of 10/20 capsules shall be checked during start-up and in every fifteen (15) minutes and the result shall comply with the specification as mentioned below:
=>If fill weight is ≤300 mg then composite fill weight shall be in between ±5.0% of fill weight.
=>If fill weight is >300 mg then composite fill weight shall be in between ±3.0% of fill weight.
Dry powder:
[][]Empty bottle/ plastic container shall be weighted and then tare button of Mettler Toledo balance shall be recorded.
=>After filling with dry powder the filled bottle/ plastic container shall be weighted again to determine the fill weight.
=>Fill weight shall be checked from each filling nozzle. In case of single filling nozzle at least five fill weight shall be checked.
=>The fill weight shall be within the range as specified in BMR. Fill weight shall be checked during start-up and in every thirty (30) minutes interval.
Uniformity of weight: In Process Check
Uniformity weight for tablet and capsule shall be checked during start-up and in every two (2) hours interval.
Tablet:
[][]A number of tablets shall be weighted individually as per the number of punch (if no. of punch is less than 20, then uniformity of weight shall be checked with minimum 20 tablets) of the compression machine. The printed record of statistical data shall be taken and the result of average tablet weight, range of individual weight and % RSD shall be recorded in BMR. The result shall comply with the specification as mentioned below:
[][]Observed average weight shall be within the range calculated with ±2.5 of theoretical tablet weight.
[][]Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) shall be NMT 6.0%.
=>Observed individual tablet weight shall comply with the specification as mentioned below:
=>If tablet weight is ≤80 mg then NMT two tablets shall be outside ±10.0% and none shall be outside ±20.0% range of theoretical tablet weight.
=>If tablet weight is >80 mg or <250 mg then NMT two tablets shall be outside ±7.5% and none shall be outside ±15.0% range of theoretical tablet weight.
=>If tablet weight is ≥250 mg then NMT two tablets shall be outside ±5.0% and none shall be outside ±10.0% range of theoretical tablet weight.
Capsule:
[][]The uniformity of capsule’s fill weight shall be checked by weighing 20 capsules individually. Then the printed record of statistical data shall be taken and the result of average capsule weight shall be recorded in BMR. The result shall comply with the specification as mentioned below:
[][]Observed average capsule fill weight shall be within the range calculated with ±3.0 of theoretical capsule fill weight.
[][]Specification of Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) shall be NMT 6.0%.
Observed individual capsule fill weight shall comply with the specification as described below:
=>If capsule fill weight is ≥300 mg then NMT two shall be outside ±7.5% and none shall be outside ±15.0% range of theoretical capsule fill weight.
=>If capsule fill weight is <300 mg then NMT two shall be outside ±10.0% and none shall be outside ±20.0% range of theoretical capsule fill weight.
Hardness, Thickness and Diameter:
Tablet:
=>Hardness, thickness and diameter of randomly taken 10 tablets shall be checked by ERWEKA TBH 125 machine and a print of found data with statistical evaluation shall be taken and the result shall be recorded in BMR. Hardness, thickness and diameter shall comply with the limit as specified in BMR. Hardness and =>thickness shall be checked during start-up in every one hour interval and diameter shall be checked during start-up.
Disintegration Time: In Process Check
[][]Randomly selected 6 tablets/ capsule shall be placed in 6 different glass tubes of Electrolab ED2 disintegration tester with/without disc (as applicable). The time by which each tablet/ capsule is disintegrated into smaller particles or granules expressed in minutes shall be recorded in BMR. DT of tablet/capsule shall be checked during start-up and every five hours if the batch runs for more than five hours. General guideline for DT of different forms of tablet/ capsule is as follows:
=>Uncoated/ core tablet : NMT. 15 minutes
=>Film coated tablet : NMT. 30 minutes
=>Effervescent tablet : NMT. 5 minutes
=>Hard capsule : NMT. 30 minutes
=>Soft capsule : NMT. 30 minutes
=>Gastro-resistant capsule : 1-2 or 3 hours in acid medium and NMT. 1 hour in buffer medium.
Friability:
[][]Randomly 20 tablets/ 6.5 gm of tablets (for average weight ≤650 mg) or 10 tablets (for average weight >650 mg) shall be selected for friability test. Initially weight of tablets (W1) shall be taken and then be placed in the Friabilator.
[][]The Friabilator shall be run for four minutes at 25 rpm and then tablets of this machine shall be reweighted (W2).Friability of tablets shall be calculated with following formula:
% Friability =W1–W2/ W1×100
[][]A Maximum weight loss NMT 1.0% is considered acceptable for most of the products. Friability of effervescent tablets and chewable tablets may have different specifications.
[][]In case of hygroscopic tablets, an appropriate humidity-controlled environment is required for friability.
[][]Friability shall be checked during start-up and in every two (2) hours interval and be recorded in BMR.
Reconstituted volume for dry powder:
[][]Glassware required for doing the test is 50 ml or 100 ml graduated cylinder.
[][]Water (quantity) shall be taken as specified for the product with a graduated cylinder.
[][]Water shall be poured to the filled bottle and syrup/ suspension shall be made as specified in Leaflet/ Inner carton of the product.
[][]Any observed anomaly (e.g. color, odor, consistency etc.) and the volume with the same cylinder shall be checked.
Parameter for In-Process Checking during packaging:
[][]In case of export besides the following some additional parameters (where applicable) shall be checked like registration no. on foil/label/carton, Text of foil (English/ Bengali), Security overprint on blister/strip etc.
Area:
[][]Room cleanliness
[][]Machine cleanliness
[][]Temperature (0C) [if applicable]
[][]% Relative Humidity (if applicable)
Bulk Product:
[][]Product name and strength
[][]Appearance of bulk
[][]Strip/ Blister packing:
[][]General appearance of bulk
[][]Cutting/ perforation
[][]Pocket formation, empty or ruptured pocket
[][]Broken tablets in pocket
[][]Print and color of foils
[][]Color and cleanliness of film (if applicable)
[][]Printing/embossing of Batch No., Mfg. Date and Expiry Date on blister/strip (as applicable)
[][]Improper or inadequate knurling
[][]Sealing (Leak Test)
[][]Camera challenge test (If available on blister machine)
Glass Bottle/ Plastic Container Filling & Packing (Tablets & Capsule):
[][]Appearance of bulk
[][]Quantity per bottle/ container
[][]Cap sealing/ Leak test (as applicable)
[][]Relative Humidity (RH) and Temperature in filling area
[][]Product name with strength on label
[][]Coding Batch no./ Mfg Date/ Exp. Date/ MRP on label (as applicable)
[][]Print and color of label
[][]Security overprint (if applicable)
Inner Cartoning:
[][]Product name and strength
[][]Coding Batch no./ Mfg. Date/ Exp. Date/ MRP (overprinting)
[][]Presence of Leaflet/ Dropper/ Spoon/ Cup/ Cylinder (if applicable)
[][]Adaptability
[][]No. of strip/ blister per pack
[][]Placing of Holographic sticker (if applicable)
Shipping Carton:
[][]Product name and strength
[][]Coding Batch no./ Mfg. Date/ Exp. Date (as applicable)
[][]No. of inner cartons
[][]Serial no.
[][]Size no. and adaptability
[][]Date of cartoning
[][]Signature of the person closing the shipping carton
Checking procedure for IPC during Packaging:
Room Temperature and Relative Humidity:
Room temperature and relative humidity shall be checked as stated above
Leak Test:
[][]At least one sample of conventional strip/ blister/ bottle/ plastic container from each delivery/ cutting channel of the machine shall be picked up from packaging line except sealing machine of one delivery/ cutting channel where two samples shall be collected and checked for integrity following corresponding SOP.
Frequency of Leak test shall be as per following table:
Sample/ Frequency
=>Blister/ Start-up and every hour
=>Empty sealed glass bottles/Start-up and in every hour
[][]If color solution enters into any of the pocket of the strip(s)/blister, into bottle(s)/ plastic container(s) it indicates the leakage.
[][]Calculate the percentage of leakage and record in Leak Test Record Sheet.
Tablet/ Capsule Counting Procedure:
[][]Tablet/ capsule counting procedure shall be performed during start-up and in every 30 minutes.
Annexure: In Process Check
Annexure-I: Coated Tablet Visual Inspection Record Sheet
Annexure-I: Leak Test Record Sheet