At Evolve, we excel in the design and construction of robust, high-performance Good Manufacturing Process laboratories and Contract Manufacturing Organisation facilities. We created the first EU-GMP lav in Ghana as well as countless others in Brussels, Dubai, Cyprus and Malta.
Our expertise lies in crafting GMP and CMO light industrial spaces that are accessible, easily operated, productive, intuitive, and secure. With years of experience in designing spaces that cater to diverse light industrial teams, we are always looking ahead to anticipate and accommodate any challenges your space may encounter to ensure continuous production optimisation.
Our Malta-based team of experts stay up-to-date with health and safety regulations, planning permissions, and codes, and we integrate these into every step of the design process. Minimising production downtime and mitigating disruptions are essential considerations in our designs.
Quality Control and Assurance
Quality is the cornerstone of GMP and CMO Facilities. Our spaces are designed with a focus on quality control and assurance, ensuring that every product and process meets the highest standards.
Efficiency is key in GMP and CMO environments. Our designs optimise workflow, layout, and equipment placement to maximise efficiency and productivity. We understand the importance of cleanroom facilities, packaging, and labelling in pharmaceutical production, and our spaces are equipped accordingly.
Experience excellence with Evolve
At Evolve, we don’t just create lab spaces; we provide end-to-end solutions. Our services encompass consultation, documentation, auditing, and supply chain management to ensure that your laboratory functions seamlessly and remains compliant.
When it comes to GMP and CMO spaces, trust Area as your partner for excellence. With a focus on compliance, quality, and efficiency, we empower your facility to meet the highest industry standards and drive innovation.
What is Good Manufacturing Practice
Good Manufacturing Practice is a system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards. It covers all aspects of production from the starting materials, premises, and equipment to the training and personal hygiene of staff. GMP aims to minimise risks involved in any pharmaceutical production that cannot be eliminated through testing the final product.
Why is GMP important in lab design?
GMP is crucial in laboratory design because it ensures that the laboratory operates in compliance with regulatory standards, providing a safe and controlled environment for the production and testing of pharmaceutical products. Adhering to GMP minimises contamination, errors, and ensures the reliability and integrity of results.
How can Evolve assist with GMP lab design?
Basic GMP procedures
GMP procedures are used to inform how every aspect of the manufacturing process works from the moment production begins to the moment the product is cleared for sale. GMP procedures encompass everything from training and personnel hygiene to specific equipment, materials, and laboratory design considerations.Across the board, GMP procedures help to enforce a few key principles:
Cleanliness & Hygiene: GMP compliant manufacturing facilities must work to maintain a hygienic environment free from contaminants, allergens, and unsafe substances that could lead to the adulteration of a product or material.
Safety: All personnel working within a GMP lab must undergo critical safety and operational training. In addition to systems that ensure safety, GMP labs also have a series of backup and emergency procedures to handle issues that may slip through the cracks. For example, all GMP labs should have a comprehensive process firmly set in place to trace and recall all batches in the event a manufacturing error is made.
Recordkeeping: Although the health authorities perform regular and often unannounced audits of GMP procedures in labs, facility staff themselves must keep unambiguous and detailed records of all procedures to prove compliance with GMP standards. Records must be made throughout the process of manufacturing and must be made available to regulatory officials during an audit or should concerns arise. Keeping detailed records can also help to eliminate or pinpoint where issues may have occurred during manufacturing. By carefully documenting each step, staff play a critical role in maintaining product integrity and facility safety.
Consistency: Products like vaccines and pharmaceuticals must be made with the utmost consistency to ensure that they are safe for distribution and use. As such, an issue or complaint associated with products made in a GMP lab should be taken seriously and investigated to the fullest. Defective products should be recalled, and all efforts should be placed towards preventing the issue from occurring again.
Tips for Designing a GMP Lab
For new lab designers or those unfamiliar with GMP regulations and procedures, designing a GMP lab can be a bit of an overwhelming process. At Evolve, our design team works in collaboration with experienced electricians, plumbers, and engineers to create fully integrated labs complete with everything you need to succeed.
Having helped to create and outfit countless labs, our team has picked up a few key pieces of advice for making the process of designing a GMP lab:
- Layout: Because GMP labs aim to reduce the risk of cross-contamination, GMP lab layouts should be designed to separate materials by type. Additionally, designers should aim to reduce through traffic in areas containing materials that could easily be transferred to other parts of the facility. Layout of laboratory countertops is super important, so consider it from the start.
- Equipment & Furniture: Although GMP design can be complicated, it is best to keep it simple when it comes to special equipment and furniture. Equipment should be easy to repair, relatively easy to replace, and easy to clean to prevent cross-contamination. Furniture should be made from easy to clean materials that won’t degrade with regular sanitation.
- Organization: Labeling everything, regardless of how ‘obvious’ it may seem, can help to drastically reduce accidents in the lab. Clear, unambiguous labels not only help to remind technicians what they are using but can also include tips on safety and use.
- Write Procedures: As difficult as it is to design a GMP lab, complying with GMP regulations is an equally challenging task. To help facility techs and researchers become accustomed to and regularly follow GMP procedures, consider writing procedural guides in clean, concise, easy to read formatting. Utilize tables, charts, bullet points, facts, and images to engage attention, and be sure to add as much detail as possible to reduce confusion.
Great projects start with great relationships
Whether you’re in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, healthcare, or any other field, we create customised solutions that align with your research goals.
As well as laboratory design services, Evolve offers high quality lab supplies and chemicals, as well as specialist scientific and medical equipment. Our international customers include major pharmaceutical companies, medical cannabis firms, hospitals, schools, universities, public laboratories and the oil and gas sectors.
If you’d like to speak to one of our experts on how Evolve can help your next science-led project, please get in touch with us today.
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When you succeed, so do we
At Evolve, a love of science is in our DNA. We’re proud to offer our customers an extensive range of quality laboratory and scientific equipment from leading brands as well as exceptional consultancy advice and customer service.
Whatever you’re looking for, we’ll provide a dedicated service that’s designed around you and your project.
Whether we’re building the first EU-GMP pharmaceutical lab in Ghana, developing the first-ever medical cannabis facility in Malta, or equipping the largest police forensics unit in Dubai, we’re there with you every step of the way.
If you’d like to speak to one of our experts on how Evolve can help your next science-led project, please get in touch with us today.
