Gero Lustig, global business manager, pharma and life sciences ABB, explains why tapping into the hidden data of a manufacturing plant might not be as difficult as perceived, if the latest manufacturing operations management (MOM) solutions are deployed correctly.
Data Concept
After reaching the patent cliff, many pharmaceutical and biotech companies are now turning their attention towards improving their overall competitiveness. Today there is an increased focus on bringing products to market quicker while maintaining profitability in a regulated environment.
Achieving these goals is helped with the arrival of smart sensors and digital control systems. These devices give access to an abundance of data. The challenge facing manufacturers is a lack of know-how for converting this data into usable information. This creates a scenario of data richness/ information poverty. What is often missing is the ability to connect the data in a manageable way, without the need to maintain individual interfaces. This is the art of digitalisation.