Pharmaceutical Engineering® Announces 2020 Article of the Year

The article describes a formal energy-efficient design (EED) process that has been in use across all industries in Ireland since 2014 and addresses the benefits of integrating this type of study into the design process. Improving efficiency in a highly regulated environment can be a challenge, but companies in even the most regulated industries in Ireland (e.g., pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and semiconductor manufacturers) are adopting the methodology. The article was derived from the authors’ experiences across many projects and in the development of the Irish standard I.S. 399, which establishes energy-efficient design as a management system (complementing ISO 9001 and ISO 50001). It provides companies with a robust strategy for delivering energy, environmental, quality, and competitiveness objectives.

The article deserves the award because it describes a proactive methodology for the implementation of a formal energy efficient design process that addresses both energy consumption and long-term sustainability. Our society is facing a major challenge in climate change and we need to minimize the use of energy and the release of emissions to produce energy.

Ferdinando Aspesi, Senior Partner, Bridge Associates International, and Chair of the Pharmaceutical Engineering Committee (PEC).

The article covers an example of proper management (including manufacturing process design) of the energy required to produce our products. It addresses the paramount need to minimize the co2 release in the atmosphere and to contribute to industry and world sustainability. The article shows the applicability of this approach in three different manufacturing processes where the manufacturing of an active pharmaceutical ingredient is usually the most energy-intensive manufacturing process in the pharmaceutical industry. It is commendable that the Irish authorities and the Irish pharmaceutical industry have taken this approach not only to reduce costs but also to address the common good of society.

About the Award

ISPE’s Roger F. Sherwood Article of the Year award was established in 1993 to increase article submissions and improve the quality of those received. In the early years, judges rated each issue's technical articles against a set of six criteria, then selected an annual winner.

Almost three decades later, while recognizing the merit of the original intent, the award has been refreshed to showcase the best content in Pharmaceutical Engineering, increase industry recognition, highlight ISPE’s reputation as a global knowledge leader, and bolster magazine content quality.

Although various judges have taken part in assessing articles over the years, one constant remains: recognition of quality and excellence in content through identifying finalists and a single winning article for each publication year.

2020 Judging

A subcommittee of the PEC served as judges for the 2020 award competition, reviewing 35 articles and providing assessments on the following criteria: usefulness to ISPE readers; how the articles improve the knowledge of key topics; and clarity/ease of reading.

The PEC subcommittee was headed by Michelle Gonzalez. Thank you to Michelle and the PEC subcommittee for their work on the 2020 competition.

2020 Award Finalists

• “Evaluation of Visual Inspection in Parenteral Products” (Jan-Feb)
  By Sambhujyoti Das
• “Chlorine Dioxide Gas Decontamination vs. Liquid Disinfection” (Mar-Apr)
  By Jennifer A. Longstaff
• Winner: “Implementation of a Formal Energy-Efficient Design Process” (Mar-Apr)
  By Aoife Hamill, BE MSc, John Hanley, PhD, MPhil, CEng, and Vincent Lane
• “Good Engineering Practice in Risk-Based Commissioning & Qualification” (May-Jun)
  By William Bennett, PMP
• “ICH Q12: A Transformational Product Life-Cycle Management Guideline” (May-Jun)
  By Eli Zavialov, PhD, Albert V. Thomas, Saroj Ramdas, Terrance Ocheltree, PhD, RPh, and Connie Langer
• “Quality & Regulatory Solutions for PAT in Continuous Manufacturing” (Sep-Oct)
  By Gabriella Dahlgren, PhD, Kevin A. Macias, Antonio R. Moreira, PhD, Duncan R. Thompson, Christoph Herwig, PhD, Robert Dream, PE, CPIP
• “Operational Risk Management in Global Supply Scenarios” (Nov-Dec)
  By Klaus Finneiser