5.0 INDUSTRY
Automation of a production facility for a pharmaceutical company
ALTEN and Caduceum, its subsidiary specializing in the healthcare industry, assisted a pharmaceutical company in automating its new vaccine production facility.
Project Highlights
Industry: Healthcare
Region: France
Client Challenge: Implement automation for a new production unit at a pharmaceutical laboratory to control process equipment and industrial IT systems.
Achievements: Made up for delays accumulated by another service provider and met deadlines; low consultant turnover on the project; created a dedicated Project Manager position for validation.
Our Client’s Challenge
Our client, a major pharmaceutical company, wanted to build a new production facility for vaccines against highly contagious animal diseases, with the site scheduled to open in 2026. This strategic project had fallen significantly behind schedule in terms of automation—specifically, the control of process equipment and industrial IT systems.
In this context, ALTEN and Caduceum, its subsidiary specializing in the healthcare industry, were contacted to take over the project and complete the automation of the production site before the scheduled opening.
Our Solution Tailored to the Project’s Challenges
To meet our client’s needs and complete the automation of their production site on schedule, we implemented monitoring measures and assembled a team of expert consultants, including a project manager dedicated to the validation process. Our close monitoring ensured the successful execution of all phases of the automation project: detailed studies, development monitoring, FAT (Factory Acceptance Test), and SAT (Site Acceptance Test).
Measures Implemented
- Literature Review
- Tracking failure reports with the supplier
- Monitoring corrective actions
- Managing FAT/SAT files until their closure
- Validation of computerized systems
- Drafting technical documentation and conducting on-site testing
Technologies Used
- Experion® PKS (Honeywell)
- ControlEdge™ PLC (Honeywell)
- EcoStruxure™ Control Expert (Schneider Electric)
- SCADA (AVEVA)
Throughout the project, our team of consultants ensured that the measures implemented complied with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), the ISA-88 standard, and the procedures defined by our client, in order to maintain the high level of quality that is customary at its production sites.
The Benefits of the Project
Thanks to our support, our client was able to complete the automation of its new production facility on schedule and begin vaccine production without the initial delays having any impact.
With 20 consultants assigned to the project, ALTEN and its subsidiary Caduceum provided close managerial oversight to ensure the team’s satisfaction and stability. The low turnover rate allowed us to remain efficient throughout all stages of the project, ensuring we met our client’s deadline. Furthermore, to make project management even more efficient, we created a dedicated Project Manager role for the validation process, which is now essential at our client’s site.
Following the project, our client once again called on us for hypercare and to assist with the maintenance of their automated production site.
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