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What do Formula One Racing and Supply Chain Efficiency have in Common?
Interview with Judy Madden
Executive Director, Commercial Development at Charles River Labs
Hint: You can win on the track but lose in the pits.
How can you compare Formula 1 racing to managing a manufacturer’s Supply Chain?
When you're watching a Formula 1 race, it's easy to get caught up in the speed of it all; from the pulsing sound of cars accelerating around the track to the technology, skill and courage of the drivers that enable breathtaking speed.
Not as exciting is the time in the pit; those time-consuming moments off the track that ensure that the vehicle is delivering peak performance. But that doesn't mean a pit stop isn't important. Formula 1 teams know that their driver can win on the track but lose in the pits if the pit crew isn’t delivering their part of the race as timely as their driver. Since the 1950s pit stops have been steadily reduced from about a minute until last month when a new record was set in the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix with a recorded time of 1.8 seconds to replace four tires. Talk about efficiency!
What does this have to do with supply chain efficiency? Modern production facilities have spent thousands if not millions of euros automating, digitizing, streamlining, and accelerating their production processes just like Formula 1 cars and drivers. But when it comes to the quality control lab; the equivalent of the racing pit, it’s typical for there to be less focus and investment in technology to modernize, to accelerate results and to contribute to a time efficient supply chain.
That’s quite an analogy. What impact does Quality Control have on the Supply Chain in typical consumer care manufacturing facility?
Most consumer care production facilities produce and package their product in less than a day but then hold that product in quarantine for three to five days waiting for QC results. That’s three to five days added to a one-day production cycle and in financial terms has negative impact on days of inventory on hand, a negative impact on invested working capital and negative impact on the ability of the operation to respond to an Out-Of-Specification (OOS) event when it occurs.
How can rapid microbial detection methods help?
Quite simply a rapid detection method like the Celsis system replaces slow traditional approaches to microbial testing with an automated analysis, giving you a “Yes/No” answer, in just 24 hours. In just 24 hours you’ll have actionable results empowering you to make confident product disposition decisions. When you release products faster the efficiency benefits flow throughout the organization resulting in improved financial metrics and a more agile and predictable supply chain.
PIcture credits: onlyyouqj / iStock
We know that some manufacturers release their products prior to getting their QC results based on their risk assessment. Can rapid methods provide benefit in a continuous release scenario?
Inherent in the decision to release product without full QC results is an acknowledgement of the cost of time and a willingness to take the risk that product may not meet specification and need to be pulled back from distribution channels.
A rapid method provides those final QC results in 24 hours which means that product isn’t as far into distribution channels as it would be if those results came in four or five days. That means that the risk of releasing product is less than it is using slower traditional methods. Further, implementing a rapid method may reduce the risk of continuous release sufficiently that some manufacturers actually move to a continuous release model rather than waiting for full QC results based on a reduced risk profile.
What can Charles River Laboratories do for consumer care manufacturers?
We have purposely built our portfolio to bring you progressive products and services that deliver accurate, relevant, and reliable data to fuel confident decisions on product quality and contamination control. Our unique combination of Celsis® rapid microbial detection in only 24 hours and Accugenix® microbial identification services keep your manufacturing operations running efficiently and smoothly, lowers your cost to manufacture, and protects your reputation.
So, while we’re not suggesting that you take your eyes off the racetrack, we ARE suggesting that you give your pit crew in the quality control lab the opportunity to modernize to better support your objective of crossing the finish line as quickly, consistently, and safely as possible.
More Product Information
Celsis® instruments are in use in hundreds of locations worldwide and by the world’s largest consumer care product manufacturers. By providing accurate micro results in 24 hours, you can confirm product quality significantly faster than traditional methods, moving products quickly and efficiently into distribution. In the event of a contamination, partnered with Accugenix® microbial identification, can accelerate corrective action and get back on track sooner.
Our Accugenix® customer web portal includes a Tracking and Trending solution for all environmental isolates identified and offers customization features for data entry fields and reports while meeting requirements of 21 CFR Part 11 and GAMP5 standards. Our flexible solutions allow clients to outsource to our experts or use our services in-house.
