The document provides an overview of the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on the manufacturing processes of tablets, including key ingredients, such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and excipients. It outlines the steps involved in tablet production, from dispensing to packaging, and describes the roles of various sub-departments within a pharmaceutical plant. Key concepts such as good manufacturing practices (GMP) and in-process control (IPC) are also discussed to highlight quality assurance in the industry.

1. A Glimpse into the Pharmaceutical Industry
1
By: Aseel Abuhamdah

2. Learning
Outcomes
Receive
statistical
overview of
pharma
industries
Learn
fundamental
ingredients in
tablets
Know the main
processes to
manufacture
tablets
Know the sub-
departments
present in a
Pharmaceutical
plant
2

3. Glossary
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP): set of guidelines/practices that ensure medicines
produced are consistent to quality standards.
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API): main ingredient in tablet that causes therapeutic
effect
Excipients: additional additives in tablet present for a function other than causing a
therapeutic effect
In –Process Control: mini Quality Control department that checks quality of tablets before
moving it to next step
3

4. Statistics
Top pharmaceutical companies in the world and revenues
4
Source: Wikipedia

5. Examples of Pharmaceutical
Companies in Jordan..
5

6. Tablet
Ingredients
Tablets have 6 main
ingredients; The API and other
five which are considered
excipients.
(Where did we mention API and
excipients before?)
API = main ingredient to cure a disease
Filler = fills the shape of a tablet mould
Lubricant = facilitates flow of particles from one
place to another
Glidant = prevents particles sticking to one another
or sticking to machines
Disintegrant = allows tablet to disintegrate into
smaller particles in the body
Binder = binds all aforementioned ingredients
together
6

7. Manufacturing
Processes
7

8. Main steps in manufacturing tablets
PackagingCoatingCompressionGranulationDispensing
8

9. The dispensing room is where required quantities of raw materials (mainly powders) are dispensed, using
scoops and drums for storage. The dispensing booth has special fans and filters to ensure there is no air
turbulence which causes contamination.
Scoop: to dispense powders/
raw materials
Dispensing booth that has balance
to measure weight of dispensed
material
Plastic Drum: dispensed materials
are placed here
Dispensing
9

10. Granulation
• Granulation is where raw materials are
mixed, dried and milled to change
powders to granules.
• The pictures represent machines in
granulating room.
• Granules have a rougher texture
compared to powders, this rougher
texture aids in the following step;
compression.
Granules vs Powders
10

11. Compression
• We input granules and receive tablets using
compression machines.
• Defected tablets are tablets with broken edges or
sticky ends.
• The In-Process Control (IPC) separates faulty tablets
from proper ones if the defect is considered major
Input
Granules
Receive
Tablets
Example of Tablet with broken edge
11

12. Coating
• A barrel rotates clockwise
and sprays coating layer to
tablet (red layer in image)
• A coating layer is sprayed to
improve taste, color or
protect tablets against UV
rays and physical
disruptions.
12

13. Packaging
• Tablets are nicely and attractively packaged.
The primary package is in direct contact
with tablets. Ex: blisters
• Secondary package is in direct contact with
blisters Ex: boxes
• Tertiary package is in direct contact with
boxes. Ex. Cartons
• The classification to primary, secondary or
tertiary is based on what the package
material contacts.
Primary Package
Tertiary Package
Secondary Package
13

14. Sub-departments in manufacturing plant
• Maintenance
14
• Compliance • Planning
Compliance team checks if processes and
technicians comply to GMP standards.
The team plans and sets
schedules of different
medicines to be produced in
upcoming months.
Maintenance team is present
24/7 for possibility of faulty issue
either in machines or elevators.

15.  Calibration
Ensure measuring devices read
correct measurements
15
Sub-departments in manufacturing plant
 In-Process Control
(IPC)
Ensure quality of products by
performing physical tests before going
to the next manufacturing step

16. Self-Assessment
• 1. What does API, GMP, and IPC stand for? (3 points)
• 2. What is the main difference between API and
Excipients? (1 point)
• 3. Mention three excipients and their functions. (3
points)
• 4. List the five stages in tablet manufacturing (3
points)
16

17. Sources
17
• Wikipedia- statistics
• http://www.worldstopexports.com/drugs-medicine-exports-country/

18. Thank You!
By: Aseel Abuhamdah
18