Tài liệu Pharmaceutical Coating Technology (Part 10) pdf

Page 249
10
Automation of coating processes
Graham C.Cole
SUMMARY
Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) and the demands of the regulatory authorities world-
wide requires greater care in the design of manufacturing facilities, the selection of materials used in
their construction, their layout, the equipment used in the preparation of tablets to be coated and the
coating operation. It is claimed that robotic systems will eventually take over all processing tasks!
(Kanig & Rudic, 1986). This chapter will discuss automation concepts and suggestions based on cGMP
(DHSS, 1983) in two areas:
An examination of Fig. 7.1
(Chapter 7) shows the general requirement, and this chapter will describe
how automation of this process can be achieved.
10.1 INTRODUCTION
Since 1970 the explosion in the development of the microprocessor, the programmable controller and
personal computers has provided tools to make substantial productivity improvements in manufacturing
systems. Many of the major pharmaceutical products in the oral solid dosage field are now produced
using automated plants. Merck’s ALDOMET manufacturing facility is well known and a well-
documented example (Lumsden, 1982; Fig 10.1
). This process uses fluidized bed coating columns. Figs
10.2
and
10.3
show schemes that uses both side
-
vented and conventional pans.
•

the design and layout of the building
•

the control and transfer of materials between the various unit operations.
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Fig. 10.1 ALDOMET manufacturing and coating process (MSD).
Fig. 10.2 Feed system to automated side-vented coating pan. (In Figs 10.2
and 10.3 —IBC:
Intermediate Bulk Container; AHU: Air Handling Unit; PMCS: Process
Monitoring Control System; ELECT: Electricity; ph: Phase; C/A: Compressed
Air; DCE: Dust Control Equipment).
The purpose here is to consider some of the ideas for automated coating systems that are incorporated
into these plants, and to look at what has been achieved with products that are not produced in large
volumes and, therefore, require a more
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Fig. 10.3 Automated feed system to standard coating pan.
flexible approach. The key driving forces towards providing better utilization of assets are:
It has been suggested that, in any productivity increase over the next decade, almost 60% will be
provided by new and existing technology, 25% will be provided by capital and 13% by labour
management (Morley, 1984).
All of these pressures are dependent on control. It is the control of the process, inventory, information
flow, materials handling and the utilization of plant which is the essential part of automation.
Generally, to do this efficiently requires the use of a microprocessor or computer. Depending on the
complexity of the operation, the number of parameters to be recorded and the degree of control required,
there are a number of systems that can be used.
•

the rising cost of labour relative to productivity increases
•

the high cost of energy and raw materials
•

poor material
-
handling facilities
•

the high cost of quality control
•

inefficient use of manufacturing equipment
•

short runs and a variable product mix.
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10.2 SYSTEMS
For the application of computer control to the coating process, some of the possible alternatives
available are highlighted here. There are three main possibilities:
Each system is briefly described with points to consider when evaluating each of them and finally
suggestions and conclusions on the final choice. It is not an exhaustive list but more a discussion to
assist in making the basic decisions.
10.2.1 Data acquisition system
Fig. 10.4 shows the layout of a data acquisition system. These are normally small devices for low levels
of inputs only, but some have limited computing power. They can also be used to provide printouts of
the information gathered, similar to that described in Chapter 6
. They do not provide any plant control
and have only limited processing of information capacity. Some can be linked to high-powered
computers which would store data or manipulate it, depending on the degree of automation required.
The field inputs have to be cabled back to a control location such as a control room and the system
interface requires safety protection.
Advantages:

Disadvantages:
Fig. 10.4 Data acquisition system.
1.
A data acquisition system;
2.
A distributed control system;
3.
A centralized computer system.
•

Small and cheap.
•

No control provided.
•

Limited data processing.
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10.1.2 Distributed control system
Fig. 10.5 illustrates the layout of a distributed control system. In a distributed system not only are the
hardware items geographically distributed, but the functions of processing, power and software are also
distributed.
Fig. 10.5 Distributed control system.
•

Limited number of inputs.
•

No data storage.
•

Long lengths of field cabling required.
•

No local operator interface.
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Each hardware item performs a specific task and information is passed between the various hardware
items using a dual data highway. This dual highway provides good security for communications.
The field devices, such as the input, output and control devices, must be protected by suitable housing
and safety equipment for use in a hazardous area, particularly if flammable solvents are used in the
coating process.
Computer type functions are distributed throughout the process area using smaller microprocessor
devices. It can support local operator control devices located in the plant area providing these are
adequately protected.
This system can provide process control for continuous variables such as atomizing air pressure and
tablet-bed temperature and batch or sequence control. It can be linked to other devices such as an
existing in-house computer.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
10.2.3 Centralized control system
Fig. 10.6 shows the layout of a centralized computer control system. This is very similar to the
distributed control system. It can perform all the same functions, but they are centralized within a
computer system. The computer would normally be the process control manufacturer’s standard.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
•

Batch, sequence operations and continuous control is available.
•

Data logging and data storage are available.
•

Calculations on the stored data can be performed.
•

Logs and reports can be generated.
•

Local operator interfaces can be provided.
• Batch and sequence control can store and use many different recipes and values, and the system
can be used to optimize process control.
•

System is easily expandable and very flexible.
•

Short field cable lengths.
•

High security of control as all functions are distributed.
•

System more suitable for plants with greater than 500 loops.
•

High cost due to its large capacity.
•

Local plant equipment must be protected in safe enclosures.

•

Same as distributed system.
•

System size tends to be intermediate between the systems illustrated in Figs
10.4
and
10.5
.
•

Long lengths of field cabling required.
• System operation dependent on one device (the computer) thus a redundancy of a back-up
computer may be required to increase reliability.
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Fig. 10.6 Centralized computer system.
Ideally the type of system required for a coating plant should have the following capability:
•

Data logging and process control of various parameters, temperature; spray rates.
•

Batch control is required with various recipes and sequences.
•

Optimization of batch control parameters.
•

Flexibility to change the process, size of batches, product, etc.

•

Local operator interface in hazardous area.
• Interface to field devices suitably protected against hazardous area (intrinsically safe circuits,
etc.)
•

Operator control/display within the control room via VDU/keyboard/printer devices.
•

Calculations and optimization of sampled and/or measured variables for analysis.
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Either the centralized or the distributed control system would be suitable for a film-coating facility,
depending on the number of coating pans which, in turn, is related to the number of variables to be
measured or recorded.
A number of additional options are also possible:
In general, however, the centralized system is preferable to the distributed system for the following
reasons:
A typical centralized control room is shown in Fig. 10.7
.
Most process control and data logging manufacturers use their own computers and their software
structure may not be comparable with the in-
house computer software. However, the necessary interface
can be provided, but this is always difficult and should be avoided if possible.
10.3 INSTRUMENTATION
Examples of the instruments necessary for automation were examined in Chapter 6. Here the
instrumentation will not only control the process but will assist in moving materials from one unit
operation to the next. A further example is shown in Fig. 10.8
.
10.4 FACILITY DESIGN AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

There are many different types of tablets that can be coated, ranging from a cosmetically coated tablet to
those that use the osmotic pump principle to release the drug. Examples were illustrated in Fig. 7.3
(Chapter 7).
In the development and implementation of any automated tablet-coating process there are a number
of objectives that must be addressed:
•

Printouts and logs required.
•

System size relatively small (150 loops approximately).
•

A dual processor computer to provide back
-
up security for control and data storage.
• Links to an in-house computer can be accommodated if a separate system is used. This data can
be passed to the in
-
house system for processing or display if required.
•

Inventory control could be added.
• In a potentially hazardous plant, it may be worth considering a separate emergency shutdown
system for increased safety.
•

It is smaller and cheaper.
•

System input/output interface is simpler while the distributed system requires special housings.
•

It allows the possibility to use an existing computer.
1.
What types of product are to be handled?
(a)
Are they highly potent?
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Fig. 10.7 Centralized control room.
Current Good Manufacturing Practice suggests there are two overriding considerations that take
precedence. These are:
A five-year forecast of requirements will be needed as there may be new coated-tablet products
coming through from Research and Development and some older products may be declining in volume.
These factors should be assessed in the design
(b)
Can they cause allergic reactions in the operators?
(c)
Are they mutagenic?
(i)
total containment of the product within a closed system;
(ii)
providing a barrier between the product and the operator, i.e. total protection.
2. Are these products beta-
lactams, e.g. penicillin? If this is the case, then a separate manufacturing
facility must be designed.
3. What quantities and mix of products are required? There may be relatively small quantities of a
number of products required rather than large quantities of individual products. In one case,
flexibility of the operation is the main objective requiring a multiplexity of services, whereas a
single dedicated production line can save on materials handling, personnel, and special

conditions (protection from light and oxygen).
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Fig. 10.8 Schematic of an instrumented and computer-controlled coating pan.
of a facility, the refurbishment of an existing operation or in selection of new equipment for
development and production purposes.
10.5 PROCESS CONCEPT
To design the facility requires an understanding of the overall tablet-coating process. The building and
building services provide the envelope around the process and the process operation must be performed
in areas designed to conform to cGMP. It will also need a validation programme.
For any tablet-coating operation there are four essential requirements:
A flow diagram should be developed, as shown in Fig. 11.2
. (Chapter 11). All or some of these
operations take place whether in a laboratory or on a production scale. For efficient and accurate
operations the following stages must be assessed:
1.
a supply of tablet cores;
2.
a supply of coating materials;
3.
the process equipment;
4.
a building to house the equipment, raw materials and finished product.
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10.5.1 Warehousing
In all companies, the size of the inventory is critical to the efficient operation of any plant. More and
more companies are employing Just-in-Time (JIT) concepts to minimize stock levels and ensure that
First In First Out (FIFO) principles apply. A typical flow diagram is shown in Fig. 10.9
. In addition,
storage space must be available for raw materials and finished stock. The simplest way of handling all
these requirements is by installing a computer-controlled materials management system. This records

incoming goods, allocates location, and notifies internal departments of the arrival of these goods. The
status of the material can be controlled using the computer and with limited personnel access the Quality
Control Department can provide means of quarantining the materials until they are passed for
production use or sale.
10.5.2 Dispensary
A schematic example is shown in Fig. 10.10. The size and equipment required will depend on the scale
of the operation and the nature of the materials being dispensed.
All balances will be selected on the basis of their sensitivity and range of weights required. For
example:
In some cases a floor balance may be installed for larger quantities up to 200 kg. It should be
remembered that the cost of balances increases with their sensitivity. These balances will need to be
located in cubicles in the dispensary, so that there is no danger of cross-contamination and different
products can be weighed out simultaneously. An area should be provided for the short-term storage
requirements of materials used in large quantities and an adjacent area should be provided for materials
used in small quantities, i.e. colours and surfactants.
Each cubicle should be equipped with laminar air flow to ensure maximum protection for the
operator, minimize dust contamination of the surrounding area and cross-contamination.
Each dispensary should be equipped with suitable dust masks, air supplied suits, safety showers and
eye wash stations, to ensure the maximum safe handling of the materials. Carefully designed HVAC
(heating, ventilating and air conditioning) and dust extraction systems are major requirements.
10.5.3 Process
The next stage in the material
-
handling procedure is to transfer the batch of raw
1.
storage of raw materials
—
warehousing
2.
raw material dispensing

3.
process operations
4.
packaging.
Balance 1 0.010 kg (sensitivity 0.01 mg)
Balance 2 10.0 kg (sensitivity 500 mg)
Balance 3 50.0 kg (sensitivity 1.0 g)
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Fig. 10.9 Flow diagram for storage of materials.
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Fig. 10.10 Schematic diagram for an automated pharmaceutical dispensary.
materials to the production area for preparation of the powder mix ready for tablet core manufacture and
raw materials for the preparation of the coating.
The layout of the process area will depend on the material-handling concept. If pneumatic transfer is
used for an automatic transfer operation, then the IBC can be linked to the blender/granulator/dryer/mill
and the blender to the tablet machine or an intermediate bulk container (IBC; see Fig. 10.11
).
Figs 10.2
and 10.3 show an automated feed and receiving system for tablet-coating equipment. Units
are linked to a process monitoring and control system (PMCS). For an automated system, coated tablets
can be stored in an IBC until released to packaging; the IBC can be positioned above the packaging unit
and the coated tablets are then gravity fed into the blister packer or securitainer filling unit.
The objective in all these operations should be to minimize manual transfer and reduce exposure and
contact of the product to the operator and the environment.
10.5.4 Layout and design of facility
A typical layout is shown in Fig. 10.12. Process areas require high-quality finishes to maintain cGMP
standards. Traditionally pharmaceutical secondary manufacturing facilities have been designed on the
basis of single rooms or cubicles for each stage of the manufacturing process. Transfer of materials has
been accomplished using a large drum or mobile trolley. Today the industry is investing in more
automatic transfer systems for material handling in an attempt to reduce costs and improve yields. This

results in a more integrated manufacturing unit. Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) is becoming
more widely used in the pharmaceuti
-
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Fig. 10.11 Automated materials handling.
cal industry to reduce labour costs, improve efficiency and increase yields. It also reduces the size of the
building and the high cost areas within that building for each manufacturing operation. The objective is
to remove the service functions outside the process area into a lower grade technical area. This means
that process utilities can be serviced without interfering with manufacturing operations as illustrated in
Fig. 10.13
. A comparison with Fig. 10.14 shows how the expensive process space has been reduced.
All these drawings have been numbered to indicate the grading of each area, e.g. 1, 2 or 3. These
gradings refer to the quality of the air required in each area and the quality of the finishes required.
Areas marked 3 will require minimum standards and areas marked 1 the maximum. Figs 10.15
, 10.16
and 10.17 illustrate the concept required for an automated facility. The traffic floor (Fig. 10.17) is
designed with a pathway for the movement of IBCs for feeding and receiving the product from the
process equipment on the floor below (Fig. 10.16
). An alternative process based on fluid bed
granulation is shown in Fig. 10.18
. This was built by SmithKline French (now part of SmithKline
Beecham).
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Fig. 10.12 Typical layout for a tablet-coating process.
Fig. 10.13 Detailed section through an automated manufacturing facility.
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Fig. 10.14 Detailed section (contained equipment) through an automated manufacturing
facility.
Fig. 10.15 Section through automated and non-automated facility showing flow of material.
The most difficult problem is how to transfer tablets (core and coated) between each unit of

equipment. To a certain degree the system chosen will depend on the extent of damage that occurs and
this relates to the robustness of each part of the tablet. It will also depend on how much deterioration the
Quality Assurance Department can accept and write into the specifications. Older products can
withstand little mechanical shock, whereas modern formulations have been developed using current
materials which provide a greater degree of robust handling.
To transport tablets various systems have been tried, all with limited success. These are:
•

bucket conveyors;
•

fluidized bed transfer system;
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Fig. 10.16 Ground-floor layout for an automated facility.
Fig. 10.17 First-floor layout for an automated facility.
•

a mixture of perforated plates with a layer of fluidizing air;
•

pulse air systems;
•

vacuum systems;
•

spiral vibrating chutes.
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Fig. 10.18 Flow diagram for an automated facility.
REFERENCES

DHSS (1983) Guide to Good Manufacturing Practice 1983 (The Orange Guide), Department of Health
and Social Security.
Kanig, J.L. & Rudic, E.M. (1986) The basics of robotic systems,
Pharm. Tech. June
Lumsden, B. (1982)
Industrial Powder Technology Conf., London, 24–25 November.
Morley, R.E. (1984) The rate of control in automation trends and perspectives
Pharmaceutical
Engineering
,
Jan
–
Feb.