If an organisation decides they want to build new manufacturing facilities,
they need a Start Up project team assembled. This team of professionals
help to bring a new facility to life, and the pioneering work they deliver
can bring patients closer to life-changing drugs, including biologics - of
which there are around 350 on the biopharmaceutical market.
So what creates the demand for a Start Up project? The projects, also known
as Capital projects, often begin either when there is an uptick in the
demand for a certain drug or when a facility begins to run out of
manufacturing space. Each project will vary in length depending on size -
and whether it's a brand new facility build or an extension to an existing
one - but will typically span between two and five years.
Read on to learn about the professionals involved in the various stages of
a Start Up project.
The seven stages of a Start Up project
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The conceptual stage – a pharmaceutical company will create the first
concept for a facility they want to build.
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Basis of design/basic design – at this stage, the pharma company will
take the initial idea and build upon it. The ideas start to come to
life and the drafts are created.
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Detailed design – as the name would suggest, more details are added to
the concept, and this is the final stage of design where the idea comes
together.
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Construction and execution- now the design is ready to be built.
Various pieces of equipment are needed at this stage.
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Mechanical completion – all fabrication is done on the physical
building. More new equipment is brought in, and by this point, the
pipework and electrical will be done.
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Installation - the focus shifts to the installation of the equipment.
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CQV
- any new equipment, even something as basic as an air conditioning
system, needs to go through the commissioning, qualification and
validation (CQV) process.
How we staff Start Up Phase projects at QCS Staffing
Pharmaceutical companies - whether they specialise in biologics, research
and development, or generics - require an external team to manage the
design and structure of their facilities. Typically, organisations won't
have this team readily assembled as their attention is focused on
manufacturing rather than design and construction. This is where QCS Staffing
comes in.
Our CapEx (capital expenditures) team will build the teams that manage the
stages from concept to when they hand over to the internal team, following
which point QCS Staffing are also able to offer skilled consultants to support
the sustaining operations. This means we'll often hire contractors who will
support existing teams. We help our clients with the day-to-day tasks
around equipment and manufacturing of the drugs, ensuring everything is
moving forward.
During the design phase, the focus is on recruiting a project services team
- project services manager, project planner, project scheduler, cost
controller, cost engineer, procurement manager and contract manager. As the
project progresses, new teams are built. Next, the attention shifts to
engineering management - the team that acts in technical capacity across
the project. They work around specific design disciplines, such as CAD,
BIM.
CQV
is a big area of business here at QCS Staffing. In fact, we have the strongest
network of personnel within CQV. For the final stage of the Start Up
project, we can build a team of CSV engineers, validation engineers,
process engineers and EHS specialists, who focus on the performance of
equipment and ensure that it adheres to standards and tests.
Greenfield projects
It's an exciting prospect to be a part of a greenfield project. Much of the
project team are involved right from the beginning. Being an entirely new
design, greenfield projects have fewer constraints and obstacles to
navigate. Members of the core project are afforded the opportunity to put
brand new processes in place and bring in new equipment for the first time.
Not only is it pioneering work, but the fast-paced nature also makes
working at these facilities challenging and exciting. What’s more,
greenfield projects are springing up in
life sciences hotspots around the globe, from the US and Denmark to Switzerland and Singapore.
Explore careers at QCS Staffing
If you're looking to take your next career move then what are you waiting
for? We're always on the hunt for professionals with experience at every
stage of a Start Up project, including, project management,
engineering/automation, construction, CQV, QA and operational readiness.
Browse our latest
Capital / Start Up project jobs
and get your application started.
