GMP: Good Manufacturing Practice – Quality Assurance

GMP, or Good Manufacturing Practices, is a set of international quality assurance standards and guidelines applied across various industries to ensure the consistent production of safe, high-quality products, including pharmaceuticals, food, and cosmetics.

GMP certification is typically mandatory for companies and organizations involved in the manufacturing and production of products in industries where product quality, safety, and consistency are critical. The industries and businesses that often need GMP certification include those involved in:

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Food manufacturing
• Cosmetic manufacturing
• Biotechnology
• Medical device manufacturing
• Chemical and chemical product manufacturing
• Animal health and veterinary product manufacturing

Implementing GMP offers several benefits to organizations. Some key advantages include:

Earning a GMP certification involves understanding industry-specific regulations, preparing detailed documentation, implementing GMP standards, providing employee training, conducting regular audits, and undergoing third-party assessments. Compliance, corrective actions, and continuous improvement are also key elements in obtaining and maintaining the certification, ensuring product quality and safety.

It typically takes between three and 12 months to earn a GMP certification, depending on an organization’s current processes and how many must be changed or otherwise altered to adhere to GMP standards.

Implementing GMP standards may pose several challenges to organizations. They include:

Here are a few tips for earning a GMP certification:

• Ensure that all employees are well-informed about GMP principles and practices through comprehensive training programs.
• Maintain meticulous records of all processes, procedures, and quality control measures.
• Conduct regular internal audits and self-inspections to proactively identify and address compliance gaps.
• Invest in the upkeep and (preventive) maintenance of manufacturing facilities and equipment to ensure they meet GMP standards.
• Collaborate with GMP experts and consultants to assess your processes and facilities, receive guidance on compliance, and prepare for third-party audits.

A GMP certification is typically valid for three years. Renewal involves regular audits by certification bodies, updated documentation to demonstrate continued compliance, ongoing employee training, and adherence to evolving GMP standards and regulations.

For more information and guidance on GMP compliance, you can refer to the following resources

Regulatory bodies. The European Medicines Agency, International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, US Food & Drug Administration, and other regulatory bodies provide a wealth of information regarding GMP and GMP certification.

Accredited certification bodies. GMP Plus International provides a global database of accredited certification bodies for GMP, which you can use to find and contact an organization that can help you take steps toward earning a GMP certification.

GMP skills matrix. AG5 offers a free skills matrix dedicated to GMP-related skills. You can use it to identify, track, and manage the skills your employees possess, as well as those they may need, for your organization’s GMP certification.

Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) is a term used mainly in the United States, while GMP is a more generic and widely used term that can apply globally. Both cGMP and GMP are essential for regulating and maintaining the quality and safety of products in their respective industries, but the specific regulations and requirements may differ based on jurisdiction and industry.

Additionally, cGMP places increased focus on using the latest and most innovative technologies to ensure quality standards, hence “current.” Companies operating in regulated industries need to be aware of and comply with the relevant cGMP or GMP standards applicable to their specific products and geographic regions.