Facility of the Year Award

For a few days in November I worked closely with a few clients in Clayton – spending time sifting through documents to begin the task of compiling information to submit to the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering. ISPE, INTERPHEX, and Pharmaceutical Processing Magazine hold an annual competition that honors one firm in the world with the Facility of the Year Award. Recipients are state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing projects that use new and innovative technologies to enhance the delivery of a quality project, as well as reduce the cost of producing high-quality medicines.

NNE Pharmaplan, an engineering firm in Clayton, contracted me to assist them with the written portion of the submission after NNE (and others)collaborated to complete a 30-month expansion project on Novo Nordisk’s Clayton plant. The expansion allowed Novo Nordisk to begin making FlexPen, a compact device that delivers insulin to diabetics. As a result of the 200,000 square foot expansion, the company became the only supplier of FlexPen in the U.S. and doubled its production capacity.

I have truly enjoyed the work done so far with these guys and gals. I especially liked suiting up in booties, a hair net, safety goggles, and gown to tour the facility while conducting my interview with the production manager. What an amazing plant. Cannot wait to start in on things again in February, guys!