Making Medicine: How Wyeth Optimized Production with TrakSYS

In 1860, pharmacist brothers John and Frank Wyeth opened a small drugstore and research lab in Philadelphia. Wyeth grew into a pharmaceutical company known for the over-the-counter drug Robitussin and the analgesic Advil (ibuprofen), and in 2009 was purchased by Pfizer.

With an even greater portfolio of pharmaceutical offerings after the acquisition, the Wyeth team needed to optimize production. Facing increasingly stringent regulatory requirements and massive customer demand, ensuring production efficiency and efficacy was the team's top priority. Wyeth faced disparate implementations, a lack of real-time production data, and no real-time data to support statistical process control (SPC).

To achieve their goals, the Wyeth team reached out to Parsec Automation LLC certified partner HSI Smart Solutions and began architecting a TrakSYS rollout. Working closely with Wyeth, HSI created and implemented a rollout that met all IT and validation standards and was user-friendly.

By integrating with Wyeth's existing SAP ERP system, TrakSYS helped operators design optimized production schedules. TrakSYS was tied into existing sensors and machinery to accurately capture production data, and eight operator-specific stations were installed throughout the facility so teams could view information, access reports, enter observations, and categorize events.

• Increased OEE by 120% within the first 12 months
• Doubled the output of production
• Reduced overtime and outsourced labor costs
• Refined production planning
• Optimized production processes
• Impacted Lean and Continuous Improvement initiatives
• Engaged operators in both commitment and improvement