GMP programs are typically broken down into five main components: People, Products, Procedures, Processes and Premises. dsm-firmenich’s effective GMP program has examined and covered every aspect of the manufacturing process in order to safeguard against risks that could be catastrophic for products, such as cross-contamination, adulteration and mislabeling. 

Let’s take a look at the five main GMP components and what dsm-firmenich does to support Good Manufacturing Practices.

People
Every person who enters a dsm-firmenich facility is required to strictly adhere to the dsm-firmenich procedures. This includes, but is not limited to personal hygiene, sanitation and numerous contamination prevention guidelines.  To ensure this, visitors and contractors receive a brief training to review dsm-firmenich requirements prior to admittance into production areas and dsm-firmenich employees receive extensive training to ensure they fully understand their roles and responsibilities. 

Products
dsm-firmenich prides itself on using high quality, safe, ingredients from approved sources. This is just one central component to ensuring the products we make exceed our customer expectations.  During the production process, both raw materials and finished products undergo multiple quality evaluations before being utilized for manufacturing and distributed to consumers.  This process includes specification checks, visual inspections, approved vendor source verification, NIR screening and may also include requested analytics. 

Procedures
The way an employee performs a task is just as crucial in producing the best products as the materials we use. That is why dsm-firmenich provides well defined Standard Operating Procedures and Work Instructions.  All dsm-firmenich procedures include job specific task requirements while also addressing safety and feed safety regulations. 

In order to confirm an employee understands the job they perform, they each receive documented one-on-one training, job evaluations and must pass written task-based quizzes. This training occurs both at on-boarding and as part of annual refresher training to ensure the task, and the responsibility to adhere to the GMP program and regulations, is completely understood.

Processes
In addition to Standard Operating Procedures, each dsm-firmenich facility has well-established processes as well, such as master sanitation, pest control, glass & hard plastic, chemical control, equipment calibration and validation programs. Routine inspections and audits are conducted to ensure employees comply with the required dsm-firmenich standards. During inspections, any deviation found is documented, investigated and recurrence is prevented with root cause analysis. These assessments help boost productivity, efficiency, and competency while promoting an environment of continual improvement.

Premises
Cleanliness is key! A clean, or dirty, facility is one of the first things a person notices when entering a building for the first time.  It is also one of the most important factors when avoiding cross-contamination, accidents and even fatalities. That is why, at dsm-firmenich, we have extensive master sanitation, preventive maintenance and inspection programs in place to ensure our equipment and facilities stay clean and well organized.  

If you would like to learn more about dsm-firmenich’s Quality programs, including our Good Manufacturing Practices, please contact your account manager for more information.