TXM Managing Director, Tim McLean, was a keynote presenter at the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE) Conference in Canberra on September 9-10. Tim’s presentation focused on the application of Lean Manufacturing to pharmaceutical projects. Tim demonstrated how applying lean thinking from the outset in project can lead to significant savings in the capital cost and ongoing running costs of the new facility. TXM also had an exhibition stand at the conference where Tim and TXM Senior Consultant, Michelle Brown were able to provide conference delegates with more information about implementing Lean Manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry.

Tim’s presentation followed an excellent presentation from Stephen Keane at Lonza in Singapore. Stephen has decades of project management experience and gave a very practical talk about the techniques he uses to manage projects tin order to deliver them on time, on budget and to specification. Tim’s presentation then complemented Stephen by talking about how to build lean manufacturing thinking in to the design and layout of new plants. Tim used a real data from a solid dose tablet manufacturing facility to demonstrate how the lean manufacturing approach can reduce capital cost, reduce plant footprint and lead to lower ongoing operating costs for the new facility. This approach is not limited to pharmaceuticals and the TXM Plant Layout Development Process has been applied in an enormous range of manufacturing and warehousing workplaces.