MEDICAL and Healthcare products Regulations Agency (MRHA) are a powerful body who ensure the compliance for all medical and pharmaceutical products and services in the UK.

One of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies wanted to prove that it didn’t just comply with MHRA guidelines but had a long-term strategy for going the extra mile.

The company commissioned Services Design Partnership (SDP) as its development partner to divide an existing site by the creation on a sustainable M&E system that could be seamlessly implemented without adversely affecting the day to day operations on site.

It was a complex operation because of the amount of movement onsite of people, internal vehicles and external suppliers’ lorries and products coupled with the client’s need to have uninterrupted production.

“The existing site is uniquely intertwined to enable the client to deliver cutting edge Research and Development, manufacturing and packing in one location. 

“The company has recognised that to go beyond the compliance separating disciplines was the way forward, but that poses complex problems,” said SDP director, Chris Armistead.

 “The new system has to accommodate access security systems to the site, movement of vehicles and people about the site to ensure that they don’t move between the two separate sections, access and internal security systems for personnel, changing rooms for personnel involved in R&D and manufacture of pharmaceuticals. 

“Until you start to look at the diverse operations and how they interlink you don’t realise the complexity of the M&E design on a site such as this.

“Processes which needed divided include everything from simple things like the post rooms to stability chamber which are temperature controlled fridges.”

“In addition to developing a design which includes new cctv, new signage to avoid confusion, lighting, car parking and footpaths, separate postal rooms and gate controls, we have worked closely with the company in deciding how the site will be divided,” he added.

To date the work has been completed without any closure of locations or business disruption.