FACILITIES MANAGEMENT & DESIGN
Design your facility with quality in mind In line with the principles of GMP, adequate consideration of facility design is key to enabling facility management. Dershana Valla of the CTFA expands on the design principles included in regulatory guidelines relevant to South Africa, to ensure quality and consistency in cosmetics manufacturing.
C
onsumers and regulators
operating in South Africa. This standard
is established, the design layout can
alike demand quality
provides, amongst other aspects, a
be planned.
cosmetic products that
good guideline to the physical design
promise innovation, efficacy
aspects of premises which facilitates
Hygiene and sanitation
and safety. There are many factors
the management of such facilities as a
It is imperative that the material used
that influence these attributes, yet few
defined and uniform practice.
for floors, walls, ceilings and windows
consider the factors behind the scenes, which are paramount to ensure product performance, safety and brand loyalty. Today we see and hear about world-
Materials and area management
in the production area are designed and constructed for ease of cleaning, sanitisation and to allow these to be kept
Prior to the design of a manufacturing
clean and in good repair. The surfaces
class production facilities, which house
facility, it’s imperative to consider the
should be smooth and resistant to
state-of-the-art and technologically
location and construction material that
potentially corrosive and harsh cleaning
advanced systems and ergonomic
will be used. These materials must be able
and sanitising agents. Windows should
designs, but these are only as good as
to be efficiently cleaned, sanitised and
be non-opening and if they are required
the premise of the principles that have
maintained while ensuring the protection
to be opened for ventilation reasons,
been consulted and implemented during
of finished products. There should also
they should be adequately screened to
the design stage. The principles of good
be clear separation of the various
prevent foreign material and pests from
manufacturing practices, or GMP, are a
activities that make up the elements of
entering the facility. Adequate lighting
good example.
the production process, taking place in
is important to enable operations within
designated areas.
the facility. However, lighting should be
The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has adopted the international
Sufficient space and separation of
standard ISO 22716:2007 first edition,
spaces is key to follow the principles of
SANS 22716:2017 Cosmetics – Good
GMP. These areas include a receiving
Manufacturing Practices (GMP) – Guideline
area, storage areas for raw materials and
be suspended from or supported by
on Good Manufacturing Practices.
packaging materials, sampling areas,
brackets to allow thorough cleaning.
Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance
production areas, an area for quality
Drains must be kept clean and should
designed and installed to contain debris from potential breakages. Overhead pipework and ducts should
CTFA continues to promote the need for cosmetics manufacturing facilities to follow the principles of the GMP standard SANS 22716:2011
be designed to prevent backflow. In raw
Association of South Africa (CTFA) has
control testing, storage areas for bulk
system works by ensuring simultaneous
promoted this standard as best practice
and finished goods, a quarantine area,
opening and closing of interleading
within the self-regulated environment.
washing area, an equipment holding area,
doors, so that the doors are never open
The intent of the Department of
and washing and toilet facilities etc. These
at the same time. This will prevent pests
Health (DoH) to reform the industry by
are dependent on the product being
and other contaminants from entering the
publishing draft Regulations relating to
manufactured and the complexity of the
storage area.
Labelling, Advertising and Composition
processing and supply chain process.
of Cosmetics, R. 1469, 22 December
Once the space is defined, the design
material and packaging receiving areas where the opening and closing of doors is inherent to the activity and process, a dual-door system is recommended. This
Equipment design and cleaning
2017, confirmed the relevance and has
must consider the flow of processes and
Included in the design elements of a
mandated the principles of this standard
personnel through the facility, so that
manufacturing facility is the aspect of
for cosmetic manufacturing facilities
errors are prevented. Once this
equipment design, especially where
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| MAY 2020 | P C Review