Life Sciences Workshop

December 3-4, 2008 - East Brunswick, New Jersey

Exclusively for Delegates from Manufacturing Companies

Life science manufacturers face substantial pressure to decrease costs, improve efficiency and responsiveness, and maintain quality and compliance in the face of dramatically changing manufacturing requirements. Advances in automation systems, production control software, and other manufacturing technologies make it possible for new levels of operational excellence.

Pressures come from many sources, including:

• Crowded franchises with extreme competition
• Growth of the generic drug market
• Industry consolidation
• The need to produce multiple types of product per line rather than the traditional single drug per line design
• New scientific risk-based approach to regulating the industry

These pressures place greater emphasis on more effective manufacturing operations and reducing the time-to-commercialization, whether it is a new drug product or modification of an existing commercial manufacturing line.  Extensive manual operations, islands of automation, disparate information systems, and paper-on-glass records will no longer meet business and regulatory requirements.  The inherent IP protection offered by manual records and the isolation of the manufacturing systems from business systems is no longer acceptable.  How do manufacturers respond?

This workshop is part of a continuing series sponsored by ARC and leading life science companies to advance mutual understanding of effective strategies and technologies to improve manufacturing operations.  Attendees will participate in discussions on current manufacturing trends and build on the participants’ and ARC’s collective knowledge-base.  They will learn how to better understand new opportunities and accelerate time-to-value for their projects.

The workshop will form several break-out teams to focus on a pain-point of their choice to identify strategies and to share best practices.  The teams will re-convene to share their findings with the rest of the workshop members.

Who Should Attend The Workshop will be beneficial to: Corporate Engineering and Global Manufacturing Automation Managers Corporate IT, Manufacturing IT, and Plant IT Managers Control, Automation, and Manufacturing Engineering Managers Quality Assurance Managers Process Analytical Team Leaders To ensure good sharing of ideas and networking, registrations will be limited to 40 people (attendance is by invitation only).

Objectives

The workshop intends to provide participants with some ‘de facto’ benchmarking and insight into the implications new requirements have on work practices and manufacturing automation technology. The key areas proposed by those who plan to attend are:

• Integration among business systems and MES including global data exchange and software connectivity solutions
• MES, production management, and electronic batch records application issues including functionality, equipment interface solutions, and project management
• Asset management including maintenance and equipment tracking
• Integration among R&D with manufacturing including specification management, BOM management, and design for manufacturability

Companies Planning to Attend

As of October, the following companies are planning to participate in the workshop: Abbott, AstraZeneca, Boston Scientific, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Genzyme, GlaxoSmithKline, Human Genome Sciences, Medtronic, Merck, Pfizer, and Wyeth.

Agenda

Following is the preliminary agenda for the Workshop.  Times and sessions are subject to change.

Wednesday, December 3

Thursday, December 4

Location

Hilton East Brunswick
3 Tower Center Boulevard
East Brunswick, NJ  08816
732-828-2000
www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/EWRBHHF-Hilton-East-Brunswick-New-Jersey

ARC has contracted a reduced rate of $140 with the hotel, based on availability, if reservations are made by November 12.  When making reservations, please specify that you are attending the ARC Advisory Group workshop.

To Register

Workshop Fee

The workshop fee is $250 per attendee if registered by November 1, 2008.  After that date, the fee is $300.  The fee includes all meals and program materials.  Attendance is limited to 40.

Cancellations and Substitutions

Substitutions may be made at any time at no additional charge. The registration fee is fully refundable up to three weeks prior to the workshop date. A 50% cancellation fee will be assessed after that date. All cancellations must be received in writing.

Registration Methods

Please use one of the following methods to register for the Workshop:

	Contact Conrad Hanf at 781-471-1155 or e-mail chanf@arcweb.com.
	Fax the Brochure and Registration form to 781-471-1100.