Lean QA

A Practical Approach to Deviation and CAPA Management: Building Simplicity, Discipline, and Clarity

Published by Adrian Fegan in Lean QA on June 8, 2026

Deviations are an inevitable reality in production, but a poorly structured Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) process often breeds last-minute pressure, complex investigations, and unnecessary workload. But there is a practical, sustainable approach to transforming chaotic deviation management into a controlled, efficient system using three core principles: flow, levelling, and visual management. By replacing deadline surges with clear milestones, balancing workloads across flexible resource pools, and utilizing digital visualization tools, organizations can eliminate bottlenecks, reduce employee stress, and significantly improve quality outcomes with less effort.

Real Time Batch Record Review – Better Quality, More Speed, Less Cost … and Real Training!

Published by Adrian Fegan in Lean QA on April 11, 2018

Real Time Review™ of Batch Records can be quite a departure from the current review process in most Life Science companies.  It will typically mean migrating from the commonly found process in which you find multiple stages and levels of review, by several Manufacturing and QA personnel, to a quicker, more efficient review process.

The ‘Checklist Manifesto’ - Saving Lives with Standard Work…?

Published by Patrick Conneran in Lean QA on September 11, 2013

A recent bestseller expounds the benefits of a simple tool that is being used to save lives in hospitals around the world. How can we apply the same tool to improve quality outcomes in other processes?

Paperwork Review in QC Labs – are Dedicated Resources a good idea?

Published by Melanie Watson in Lean Laboratory, Lean QA on September 9, 2013

Pharmaceutical testing laboratories face many challenges including high volatility in incoming workloads, non-optimized analyst roles and undefined testing sequences. These issues are often ‘managed’ by dedicating resources to specific tasks and creating subject-matter experts in an attempt to improve performance and reduce errors. More recently there has been a move towards dedicated reviewers, where analysts are “promoted” off the bench into full-time review roles.

Lean QA - Audit Management

Published by Patrick Conneran in Lean QA on August 21, 2013

Most pharmaceutical companies have a cGMP auditing program administered at the site and corporate levels of the organization. Given the success seen through the implementation of Lean in QC and Manufacturing, many organizations wish to extend these initiatives to their audit function in order to improve productivity and service level, and lower costs. However, faced with a constantly evolving regulatory environment and increasingly varied processes and facility types (manufacturing, warehousing, contractors, suppliers etc.), can Internal Audit functions improve their operational effectiveness while maintaining the same level of regulatory oversight?

Lean QA - Audit Management

Published by Patrick Conneran in Lean QA on August 21, 2013

Most pharmaceutical companies have a cGMP auditing program administered at the site and corporate levels of the organization. Given the success seen through the implementation of Lean in QC and Manufacturing, many organizations wish to extend these initiatives to their audit function in order to improve productivity and service level, and lower costs. However, faced with a constantly evolving regulatory environment and increasingly varied processes and facility types (manufacturing, warehousing, contractors, suppliers etc.), can Internal Audit functions improve their operational effectiveness while maintaining the same level of regulatory oversight?

Slow down… so that you can speed up

Published by Preston Chandler in Lean Laboratory, Lean QA on April 2, 2012

Slow down....so that you can speed up. Sounds like something Yoda would say. Component sub-optimization for increased system performance.