Depending on the factory, some production employees may find it surprising that management has an important role to play in a quality system. 21 CFR 820.20 mandates that “Management with executive responsibility shall establish objectives for, and commitment to, quality”.[1] The Federal Government expects that management takes an active interest in improving the output of their company, at least in the case of medical device manufacturers.
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Corrective and Preventive Action
In addition to helping manufacturers make better products, corrective and preventive actions are important because the process is legally required by the FDA when making medical devices for the US market.
Managing Risks
All of life entails some about of risk. The most humans can really do is mitigate the destructive effects of these risks that we take on a daily basis., the same goes with medical devices.
The Significance of Design Controls
In the 1980s, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) studied the causes of voluntary recalls of medical devices. Between October 1983 and September 1989, they found that about forty-four percent of these recalls were due to design issues.
Paperwork: The Necessary Evil
No one genuinely enjoys doing paperwork. At best, people may dislike paperwork less than other parts of their jobs. Yet the FDA requires a certain amount of paperwork to document processes and results for the medical devices under their jurisdiction
The Digitalization of Quality Management Systems
One blessing that occurred in the recent years is the rapid digitalization of business functions. It’s hard to imagine a time before the use of video calling or instant messaging to reach teammates or clients from across the world almost immediately.
HIPAA and GDPR’s impact on Medical Devices
The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which was put into effect on May 25, 2018, is often considered to be one of world’s toughest laws when it comes to privacy and security. The regulations lay down privacy and security standards, imposing obligations on any/ all organizations having an impact on the people of EU, whether related to targeting or collecting data.
QSR and ISO 13485 Harmonization: Enforcement, the Ultimate Question
A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of moderating one of the Food and Drug Law Institute’s (FDLI) Law over Lunch Sessions. I spent my lunch hour with industry folks and lawyers discussing the forthcoming Quality System Regulation and ISO 13485 Harmonization. One topic emerged as the front-runner of what was on everyone’s mind: how is the FDA actually going to conduct enforcement for this? Can we expect to see a major change in FDA enforcement?
Incorporating GDP through Lean Six Sigma
GDP – far-reaching within all GxP-compliant organizations, and yet it can be a challenging point for many during audits. GDP, or Good Documentation Practices, are essential to maintaining an effective QMS. In a previous blog post, we touched on GDP, ALCOA+, and recommendations for successful GDP practices. In this post, we’re going to take a deeper dive into GDP, the governing regulations, and tips on consistently maintaining GDP.
How does FDA regulate Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Ayurveda, which is a traditional system of medicine, originated more than 3000 years ago. This field of medicine pays larger emphasis on building strength of mind and body to cope with different kinds of stressors and infections.[i] There are studies which suggest that ayurveda can reduce pain, manage with symptoms of type 2 diabetes, etc.
FDA Warning Letters Are Public Information
For a medical device organization, a Warning Letter from the FDA is the worst kind of publicity. It is an open disclosure of how poorly your organization complied with specific regulatory requirements.
Role Definition for Team Success
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India released a draft of the Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2022 (“Bill”).[i] This Bill overhauls the pre-independence legislation enacted by the Central Legislative Assembly, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940,[ii] (“D&CA”) which is the primary legislation for regulation of drugs, biologics and medical devices at the moment.
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