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Article CommentaryCommentary

The Reliability-Quality Relationship for Quality Systems and Quality Risk Management

H. Gregg Claycamp, Faiad Rahaman and Jason M. Urban
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology November 2012, 66 (6) 512-517; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5731/pdajpst.2012.00888
H. Gregg Claycamp
1Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation, Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Ph.D.
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  • For correspondence: Gregg.claycamp@fda.hhs.gov
Faiad Rahaman
2Office of Compliance, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)
M.S.
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Jason M. Urban
2Office of Compliance, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)
Ph.D.
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Abstract

Engineering reliability typically refers to the probability that a system, or any of its components, will perform a required function for a stated period of time and under specified operating conditions. As such, reliability is inextricably linked with time-dependent quality concepts, such as maintaining a state of control and predicting the chances of losses from failures for quality risk management. Two popular current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) and quality risk management tools, failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and root cause analysis (RCA) are examples of engineering reliability evaluations that link reliability with quality and risk. Current concepts in pharmaceutical quality and quality management systems call for more predictive systems for maintaining quality; yet, the current pharmaceutical manufacturing literature and guidelines are curiously silent on engineering quality. This commentary discusses the meaning of engineering reliability while linking the concept to quality systems and quality risk management. The essay also discusses the difference between engineering reliability and statistical (assay) reliability.

LAY ABSTRACT: The assurance of quality in a pharmaceutical product is no longer measured only “after the fact” of manufacturing. Rather, concepts of quality systems and quality risk management call for designing quality assurance into all stages of the pharmaceutical product life cycle. Interestingly, most assays for quality are essentially static and inform product quality over the life cycle only by being repeated over time. Engineering process reliability is the fundamental concept that is meant to anticipate quality failures over the life cycle of the product. Reliability is a well-developed theory and practice for other types of manufactured products and manufacturing processes. Thus, it is well known to be an appropriate index of manufactured product quality. This essay discusses the meaning of reliability and its linkages with quality systems and quality risk management.

  • Reliability
  • Quality risk management
  • Quality systems
  • Risk assessment
  • © PDA, Inc. 2012
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PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology: 66 (6)
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
Vol. 66, Issue 6
November/December 2012
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The Reliability-Quality Relationship for Quality Systems and Quality Risk Management
H. Gregg Claycamp, Faiad Rahaman, Jason M. Urban
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology Nov 2012, 66 (6) 512-517; DOI: 10.5731/pdajpst.2012.00888
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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Introduction
    • Reliability and Quality
    • Basic Reliability Concepts
    • Contrasting Engineering and Statistical Reliability
    • The Marriage of Quality and Reliability
    • Reliability and Risk
    • Conflict of Interest Declaration
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The Reliability-Quality Relationship for Quality Systems and Quality Risk Management
H. Gregg Claycamp, Faiad Rahaman, Jason M. Urban
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology Nov 2012, 66 (6) 512-517; DOI: 10.5731/pdajpst.2012.00888

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