Life sciences
Robotics and AI automation in pharmaceutical quality control
Context
A major pharmaceutical company was running environmental monitoring across global Quality Control. Operators manually inspected petri dishes, counted bacterial colonies and recorded results. A scanner provided predictive counts, but the process remained semi-automated.
Objectives
- Automate more of the workflow without losing accuracy, traceability or control.
- Move towards an integrated solution combining automated handling, sharper image analysis and digital connection.
Our Approach
- Conducted a make-or-buy assessment comparing an external turnkey solution with in-house robotic equipment integrating the organisation’s internal AI algorithm.
- Built the business case and ROI analysis supporting the investment decision.
- Coordinated the AI, robotics, user-interface and systems-integration workstreams, managing dependencies between internal and external teams.
- Managed business, quality and technical stakeholders to secure alignment on scope and requirements.
- Established programme governance, steering and reporting routines.
- Supported solution qualification in line with pharmaceutical quality requirements and prepared deployment planning.
Results
Investment decision
- Make-or-buy assessment, business case and ROI analysis delivered, supporting the client’s investment decision.
Stakeholder alignment
- Business, quality and technical stakeholders aligned on scope, requirements and target process.
Governance & structure
- Programme governance, reporting and project structure established across internal and external workstreams.
Solution development
- Development and qualification of the integrated robotics, AI and systems solution enabled.
Industrialisation
- Foundations established for industrialisation and wider deployment of the automated process.
