Recently, with the continuous improvement of the global pharmaceutical industry’s compliance requirements for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), the application of distributed control systems (DCS) in pharmaceutical production has ushered in a new round of upgrades. In order to meet more stringent data integrity, process controllability and automated production requirements, pharmaceutical companies have introduced advanced DCS solutions to promote the industry’s intelligent transformation.

Compliance drives technology upgrades

GMP regulations have set higher standards for data recording, process parameter monitoring and deviation management in the pharmaceutical production process, and traditional control systems can no longer meet the requirements. The DCS system has become the first choice for pharmaceutical companies with its high reliability, real-time data collection and centralized management advantages. Industry experts pointed out that the new version of GMP’s requirements for electronic records and signatures (ERES) have further accelerated the iteration of the DCS system.

International brands dominate the market

In the wave of DCS upgrades, international automation giants have been active. ABB’s Ability™ System 800xA has been adopted by many biopharmaceutical companies due to its modular architecture and compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11; Schneider Electronics’ EcoStruxure™ process control platform helps users achieve end-to-end compliance through integrated SCADA and MES functions. In addition, Bentley Systems’ digital solutions have also emerged in the automation transformation of pharmaceutical factories, and its OpenPlant software helps to realize the intelligent design and management of process pipelines.

Localization and customization trends are obvious

To adapt to the needs of emerging markets such as China, suppliers have launched localization services. For example, Siemens SIMATIC PCS 7 system has successfully entered domestic high-end pharmaceutical projects by adding Chinese operating interfaces and local technical support; and Honeywell’s Experion® PKS system provides customized modules for complex processes in traditional Chinese medicine production.

Future Outlook

Industry analysts believe that with the deepening of intelligent manufacturing and Industry 4.0, DCS will be further integrated with AI and big data to provide more efficient compliance guarantees for the pharmaceutical industry. It is estimated that by 2025, the global pharmaceutical DCS market will exceed US$2 billion, with the Asia-Pacific region becoming the main growth force.

This upgrade wave not only improves the standardization level of pharmaceutical production, but also brings new market opportunities for automation suppliers.

As a professional DCS and PLC module trader, we have long maintained close cooperation with international brands such as ABB, Schneider, Bentley, etc., and can provide enterprises with original, cost-effective DCS hardware and PLC modules, covering the entire chain of services from system construction to spare parts supply. If your company is planning to upgrade DCS or needs to quickly replace key components, please contact us for product selection support and quotation solutions. We will help your compliance production process with efficient services.