Manufacturing & quality

Have you ever wondered what it takes to make medicine? For most people, it’s not something you think about. That’s not the case for us. Manufacturing and Quality (M&Q) is a critical part of our mission and a responsibility we take seriously. Tens of thousands of employees work daily to ensure the quality and consistency of manufacturing of  our medicines.

But our manufacturing focus goes beyond the demands of today. We’re investing in the future. From the time a medicine shows promise in a clinical trial, we’re planning and preparing for the approval of the medicine, including investing in new facilities. Globally, we’ve launched over 21 new medicines since 2014, with more expected in our pipeline. That’s why we’re constantly pursuing innovative ways to scale our global production and help more people—always with safety and quality standards front and center.

We often hear about the investment it takes to find the next great medicine. But ensuring those medicines can reach the people who need them also takes significant resources and can be just as complex. Our M&Q teams are constantly evolving and expanding capabilities to find the most cutting-edge ways to deliver. The teams are responsible for a diverse set of products and systems that help us create the active ingredients, the medicines themselves, and the devices to package and deliver those medicines. It's a complex, methodical, science-based process.

These sites require significant resources: specialised equipment, top-of-the-line facilities and highly skilled employees. We’re using robotics, automated guided vehicles, automated warehousing, and highly automated equipment to speed production. At one of our most recent sites using this technology in North Carolina, we are capable of doubling production compared to our other facilities. As we use more automation, we’re also investing in our team, providing extensive technical expertise and training for operators, technicians, engineers and scientists.

Thousands of employees are behind the scenes ensuring our medicines meet our quality and safety standards. A big part of making sure we have the right people on our team is making sure our employees are supported; empowered to learn and grow; and that we’re prioritising their well-being and safety.

It takes diverse talent to make the medicines that so many around the world count on. From engineers who help continuously improve our facilities, equipment and processes, to technical services and operations team members who are front and center controlling production, every person in M&Q plays an important role in changing people’s lives.