The importance of the laboratory to the pharmaceutical business

Understanding the contributions that the laboratory can make in product/process development, process improvement, market surveil lance and general business is key to the pharmaceutical business today. Poor laboratory practice yields compliance issues, increased cost, increased cycle time and delayed product introductions. This paper covers key areas of customer satisfaction, the role of quality control and quality assurance laboratories, measures of account ability and progress, and an example of how laboratory robotics can help meet important goals.