Determine Exceptions to Validation

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This presentation from IVT's 4th Annual reviews what to do when you have an exception, critical vs. non-critical exceptions, and learning how to prevent exceptions.

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Validation Exceptions – Managing life’s little (and big) unexpected events( g) p

Brian K. Nunnally, Ph.D.

What is an exception?p

An error or a failure which occurs duringAn error or a failure which occurs during Verification or Validation

William Shakespeare: "It is neither good nor bad, but thinking makes it so."

Types of Exceptionsyp p

Three levels of exceptions:Three levels of exceptions:CriticalN iti lNon-criticalSimple

Simple Exceptionsp p

Simple exceptions are documentation orSimple exceptions are documentation or protocol errors

Th f d i t tiThese errors are found prior to execution or are “obvious” errors or typos

These e ceptions ha e no impact on theThese exceptions have no impact on the validation (e.g. no risk)

Simple Exceptions examplesp p p

Wrong test selected for productWrong test selected for productIncorrect specification for productLoss of power to the equipment being tested.

Other examples from the participants?Other examples from the participants?

Non-critical Exceptionsp

Non critical exceptions are errors in theNon-critical exceptions are errors in the protocol or execution of the validation which have no impact on the validationhave no impact on the validation

These errors are found during or after executionA t i d d t d t i i tAssessment is needed to determine no impactNeed to document the risk (or lack thereof)

Non-critical Exceptions lexamples

Operator not trained to perform the operationOperator not trained to perform the operationAn interruption in the computer system or th i t’ fthe equipment’s performance

Other examples from the participants?

Critical Exceptionsp

Critical exceptions are errors which have anCritical exceptions are errors which have an impact on the validation

Th f d d i ft tiThese errors are found during or after executionAssessment is used to determine impactN d t d t th i kNeed to document the risk

Critical Exceptions examplesp p

Acceptance criterion failureAcceptance criterion failureAn interruption in the computer system or th i t’ fthe equipment’s performance

Other examples from the participants?

Basic Exception Process Flowp

SME involvement throughout isSME involvement throughout is criticalYou cannot document enough, even if all of it does not make iteven if all of it does not make it into the final event write-upCAPA may not be needed for simple events, but consider ifsimple events, but consider if there are many of them or the same ones repeatedly

General Process Considerations

Commence exception resolution process as soonCommence exception resolution process as soon as event is observedInvolve SMEs/QA throughout process asInvolve SMEs/QA throughout process as appropriate

Get agreement on next steps and/or resultsg pPrior to execution, or after the completionIncluding all elements of the process

Immediately notify the relevant SME/QA if there is any potential Product/Material impactConduct a risk assessment to determine impact and actions

What is the risk and impact of the exception?the exception?

Event severity x Testing Stage = ImpactEvent severity x Testing Stage = ImpactEvent Severity:

What kind of event is it? How was the event caused?

Testing Stage: Where are we in the validation/verification process? Installation? Performance Qualification?

Event Typesyp

Typographical errorsTypographical errorsThese errors are found prior to execution or are “obvious” errors or typos

External IssuesExternal IssuesFailures caused by factors external to the process or system under test

Execution ErrorsExecution ErrorsFailures to follow instructions within the Test Document or referenced procedures.

Document Generation ErrorsDocument Generation ErrorsIncorrect detail in procedures, acceptance criteria or referenced documentation

Acceptance Criteria FailuresAcceptance Criteria FailuresPre-defined acceptance criteria have not been achieved.

Testing Stageg g

New system installation and the exceptionNew system installation and the exception does not impact the validation intentN t i t ll ti d th tiNew system installation and the exception does impact the validation intentNew or Existing system qualificationProcess ValidationRe-qualification

Should testing stop?g p

Depends on the impact scoreDepends on the impact scoreDepends on consultation with SMEs and QAAre you willing to live with a failure? Will it open more questions than it solves?p q

Note: It does not depend on the timeline!Note: It does not depend on the timeline!

Exception example #1p p

An acceptance criterion was failedAn acceptance criterion was failed.However, the acceptance criterion was poorly set (limited knowledge was available to set the acceptance ( g pcriterion).

What level of exception is this?What do you do?

Exception example #2p p

The acceptance criterion was passed but theThe acceptance criterion was passed, but the result was right at the limit.

Assay variability is high for the test.Assay variability is high for the test. Is this an exception? Why or why not?What do you do?What do you do?

Exception example #3p p

During validation of the cleaning process theDuring validation of the cleaning process, the Operator executing the protocol failed to sample the correct locations. Is this an exception? Why or why not?What do you do?What do you do?

Preventing Exceptions

The key to preventing tiexceptions

Understanding and reducing variationUnderstanding and reducing variation.Systems thinking (managing the flow through the entire process as an entity)entire process as an entity).

Types of Variation (Including Sampling Analytical and Production)Sampling, Analytical and Production)

Variation in Quality Characteristic (specific activityVariation in Quality Characteristic (specific activity, potency, pH, temperature…etc.Process variation Variation in the way ourProcess variation. Variation in the way our processes behave and are managed or controlled.Variation in volume flowing through a process.Variation in volume flowing through a process.

Why focus on variability?y y

Reduced variation in Quality CharacteristicsReduced variation in Quality Characteristics reduces rejects, rework and deviations. It provides high First Pass Yields.Reduced variation in Volume (smoother flow) increases output capacity and reduces capital requirementsrequirements. Reduced variation in Volume (smoother flow) decreases cycle time and Work-In-Progress.y g

Which one will be more likely to fail an acceptance criterion?fail an acceptance criterion?

2600

Day shift Following night shift

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t Ave

rage

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0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1-Po

in

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 050 70 90 110

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More examples…pPotencyy

pH

Correlation?

Before ProjectR2 = 0.2594

23

25

27

Before Project

15

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3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

R2 = 0.9107

27

29After Project

19

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25

15

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3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

What should you do?y

CRITICAL ERRORS PER WORKER PER WEEK

WEEK1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 TOTAL

Mary 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Joe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Eva 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 7Eva 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 7

Fred 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3

Jim 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ed 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2Ed 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

Kate 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Carl 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

TOTAL 13TOTAL 13

The lesson from Tribus

Bring a team together to focus on ensuring the aimBring a team together to focus on ensuring the aim is clear to all participantsFocus on systems to reduce and remove possibilityFocus on systems to reduce and remove possibility for errorsImprove systems as a way to prevent human error.Improve systems as a way to prevent human error.Be very careful when assigning blame to human error or to a specific personp p

Expectations on Exceptions

Three keys to exceptionsy p

DocumentDocumentDocumentDocument!

Keep it simple!p p

Document the standard questions:Document the standard questions:WhoWh tWhatWhen Why WhereHow

Other requirementsq

Root Cause DeterminationRoot Cause DeterminationIf root cause is unknown, a study should be conductedco duc ed

Impact DeterminationHow severe is the exception?How severe is the exception?What is the impact to intent?

Corrective Action DeterminationCorrective Action DeterminationHow will this be prevented in routine use?

Re-Testing / Re-executionRe Testing / Re executionIs it necessary? Why or why not?

More exceptions examples…

Exception example #4p p

During the annual re qualification / re verification ofDuring the annual re-qualification / re-verification of the performance of an autoclave which has been used for manufacturing of product, the g p ,thermocouples did not achieve the required temperature. Is this an exception? Why or why not?What do you do?

Exception example #5p p

During the verification of the installation of VesselDuring the verification of the installation of Vessel which has not been used to manufacture product, power was lost during testing of the agitator. p g g gIs this an exception? Why or why not?What do you do?What do you do?

Exception example #6p p

During the re validation / re verification of CleaningDuring the re-validation / re-verification of Cleaning validation of a process which has NOT been used to manufacture product, some samples were p , paccidentally not taken. Is this an exception? Why or why not?p y yWhat do you do?

Exception example #7p p

During the execution of an alarm checkDuring the execution of an alarm check (operational verification) for a system not used to manufacture product, the test document had the p ,incorrect sequence of events. Is this an exception? Why or why not?p y yWhat do you do?

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