«In Swisscom we have found a partner that has the expertise and necessary experience in a validated environment.»
Dr. Renzo Salzmann,
Director Technical Operations, Geistlich Pharma AG
Geistlich Pharma has had a significant impact around the world in the market for regenerative biomaterials. The company is the market leader in regenerative dentistry and is considered a pioneer in the development of medical products for the restoration of bones, cartilage and soft tissue. Over 450 employees, and more than 50 distribution partners, plus eight subsidiaries in the UK, Germany, Italy, France, China, Brazil, South Korea and North America, market and sell its products around the world. The basis of the company's growth, innovation and profitability is, in addition to the specialist expertise, an efficient and scalable IT. With the introduction of SAP ERP though its implementation partner Swisscom, Geistlich Pharma now has a solution that matches its needs perfectly.
Geistlich has full command over the entire product chain. From the selection and evaluation of raw materials, to research and development, production and warehousing through to distribution – all steps are performed in one smooth process and meet the company's high requirements in terms of quality and safety. To master this complex operation, the company evaluated a more efficient ERP system in 2012, one that had to meet FDA validation requirements. “The central element for meeting the quality requirements is clearly the traceability of our products without any gaps,” notes Dr. Salzmann. “We must document processes, release the individual process steps and keep track of everything electronically in the system. By doing so, we create documented proof of total traceability and reproducibility.”
Geistlich Pharma's existing ERP system was stretched to its limits by the increasing demands in terms of governance/ compliance (computer system validation) and the complexity of the products and markets. Transparency and access to real-time data were lacking, and also missing was an interface to key peripheral systems such as the LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System). When support and maintenance were then also discontinued, the time was right for Project TIGER (Targeted Implementation of Geistlich Enterprise Resources). The new solution had to provide full conformance with all compliance requirements (EU, FDA) and, as a scalable system, support future growth and competitiveness. An additional goal at Geistlich Pharma was to improve the level of automation and maximum efficiency in handling transactions.
Geistlich Pharma's existing ERP system was stretched to its limits by the increasing demands in terms of governance/ compliance (computer system validation) and the complexity of the products and markets. Transparency and access to real-time data were lacking, and also missing was an interface to key peripheral systems such as the LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System). When support and maintenance were then also discontinued, the time was right for Project TIGER (Targeted Implementation of Geistlich Enterprise Resources). The new solution had to provide full conformance with all compliance requirements (EU, FDA) and, as a scalable system, support future growth and competitiveness. An additional goal at Geistlich Pharma was to improve the level of automation and maximum efficiency in handling transactions.
Geistlich Pharma manufactures biomaterials using its own facilities and with raw materials procured from around the world. The company works with the very latest machinery and equipment, some of which is developed in-house, in order to ensure the highest level of product quality. If somewhere in the world a health problem arises in a patient, Geistlich must be able to show definitively the paths taken by all raw material batches through the entire production and supply chain. The regulatory requirements in the pharmaceuticals industry (e.g. FDA) require CSV (computer system validation) so that IT systems and processes are completely documented and all procedures are reproducible. Thus, employees work with hand scanners so that the flow of materials is systematically traceable. In this way, it is possible at any time to determine the location and status of individual products.
SAP ERP guarantees that sales, procurement, logistics and production processes are all electronically traceable.