Articles by Mark Durivage

  1. Identifying, Documenting, & Auditing Processes For Quality Management 5/25/2020

    Process results that are predictable and consistent can be achieved more effectively and efficiently when the activities are considered, managed, and understood as interconnected processes that function as a system.

  2. Is It Time To Say Goodbye To FMEA Risk Priority Number (RPN) Scores? 4/27/2020

    It may be time to consider eliminating the use of the traditional risk priority number (RPN) score and transitioning to the use of action priority (AP) ratings. AP ratings are much simpler to use, do not require a calculation (eliminating the validation of a spreadsheet), and provides a single simple table reference to determine the appropriate level of action.

  3. Defining And Measuring QMS Processes 4/22/2020

    Predictable and consistent process results can be achieved more effectively and efficiently when the activities are considered, managed, and understood as interconnected processes that function as a system.

  4. Stand By To Stand By: Organizational Contingency Planning 4/6/2020

    The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been a wakeup call, exposing the vulnerability of the global supply chain and the lack of emphasis placed on contingency planning.

     

  5. Remote Auditing Best Practices For GMP Compliance 3/25/2020

    Every organization that is regulated by the FDA has been adversely affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This article will focus on remote auditing for good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliance, with a focus on the challenges, opportunities, and best practices for performing remote internal and external audits.

  6. A SMART Approach To CAPA Effectiveness Checks 3/9/2020

    Many times, corrective and preventive action (CAPAs) fail due to the structure and flow of the process and not necessarily the efforts of those managing the CAPAs. This article will look at using the SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) methodology for use in developing a CAPA verification of effectiveness plan.

  7. The 10 Phases Of An Effective CAPA 2/5/2020

    Corrective and preventive action (CAPA) issues continue to be one of the top Form 483 observational findings by the FDA. Many times, CAPAs fail due to the structure and flow of the process and not necessarily the efforts of those managing the CAPAs. A poor paper-based CAPA process will not improve with an electronic-based CAPA system.

  8. Design Of Experiments 101: Understanding DOE's Foundational Elements 12/9/2019

    DOE is a very powerful tool that can be used to characterize a process. This article discusses several types of experiments, as well as the basic statistical tools and techniques, that can be used when performing a DOE.

  9. FDA's Accreditation Scheme For Conformity Assessment (ASCA) Pilot Program Explained 11/13/2019

    The ASCA Pilot is intended to provide increased confidence in testing results from ASCA-accredited testing laboratories, as well as decrease the burden of individual premarket submissions when manufacturers rely on testing completed by ASCA-accredited testing laboratories.

  10. FDA Updates Several 510(k) Guidance Documents 10/21/2019

    The FDA recently issued four final guidance documents governing 510(k) regulatory submissions, covering the Special, Abbreviated and Traditional 510(k) pathways, as well as the Refuse to Accept Policy for 510(k)s.