Now Available: 2024 Thermoform Circularity Report
Blogs

Leveraging Automation in Pharmacy Packaging

January 10, 2024|BY: Rob Helmke

Leveraging Automation in Pharmacy Packaging
Back to all posts

The pharmaceutical industry has always been at the forefront of innovation, and automation has played a vital role in driving the industry forward. With an increasing demand for pharmaceutical products, there has been a need for faster and more efficient packaging solutions on a commercial scale. Pharmacy packaging automation is an effective solution to meet this demand.

Read on to explore the benefits of leveraging automation in pharmaceutical packaging and how it can help you stay ahead of the curve. 

Benefits of Automated Pharmaceutical Packaging Solutions

Automation in pharmaceutical packaging involves the use of machines and software to streamline the packaging process. When implemented correctly, automation can bring many benefits to your pharmacy.

Higher Accuracy on Inspections

Automated pharmaceutical packaging solutions can greatly improve accuracy in the inspection process. 

By utilizing advanced automation technology such as machine vision systems, sensors, and barcode scanning, these systems can identify and verify the correct medication, dosage, and packaging components. 

They can also detect and eliminate any packaging errors and detect counterfeit medications. They thereby minimize the risk of errors and reduce the need for manual inspection.

Additionally, automated packaging solutions can provide real-time data on production and quality metrics, allowing for the improvement of quality control and the packaging process.

Saves Larger Amounts of Time and Resources

The demands of dispensing medication, managing inventory, and providing patient care can quickly become overwhelming. One way to alleviate these challenges is to implement automated pharmaceutical packaging solutions.

These solutions utilize advanced technology such as robotic arms, conveyor systems, and machine vision to package medications quickly and accurately. They can handle a high volume of prescriptions with minimal manual labor, reducing the need for staff to spend time packaging medications. This can help free up staff to focus on other essential tasks such as patient counseling, inventory management, and customer service.

In addition to streamlining the packaging process, pharmaceutical box packaging automation can also help optimize the use of resources in several ways. Examples include:

  • Minimizing the need for additional equipment or materials
  • Reducing waste
  • Ensuring medication is packaged in the most cost-effective manner possible

This can result in significant cost savings over time, allowing you to allocate resources to other areas of your pharmacy operation.

Cuts Down Labor Costs

Labor costs can represent a significant portion of your budget, and reducing these costs without compromising quality can be a difficult task. 

Fortunately, packaging machine automation can help cut down on labor costs by streamlining the packaging process and minimizing the need for manual labor. This can drastically reduce the time needed to package medication while increasing the accuracy and consistency of these packages. 

Furthermore, automated packaging solutions allow for customization and flexibility. So, you can package medications in various sizes and shapes while ensuring both accuracy and safety.

With automation, machines can perform critical tasks with minimal human intervention, including:

  • Counting pills
  • Sorting medications
  • Labeling packages

The adoption of automation in packaging thus reduces the need for manual labor in your pharmacy. 

Many manual packaging processes require multiple technicians or machine operators. Automated solutions often require as little as one operator, greatly reducing labor costs. 

Reduces Chances of Bottlenecking

One of the biggest obstacles that pharmacies face is bottlenecking — congestion in the production process that severely slows or stops the system. A sudden increase in demand for prescriptions usually causes bottlenecking, which can lead to delays, long wait times, and reduced medication adherence for customers. 

However, automated packaging solutions can help alleviate this problem and keep your pharmacy running smoothly. Automated pharmaceutical packaging systems provide advanced tools and software that streamline the entire supply chain. You can count on a steady flow of prescription orders coming through the system without any delays or interruptions.

Furthermore, automation offers a more accurate and consistent packaging process. Unlike manual packaging methods, these systems rely on advanced technologies to fill and label prescription bottles. The use of technology eliminates the possibility of human error, which can lead to incorrect dosages, incorrect labeling, and other issues that could cause delays.

With a smoother and more consistent packaging process, you can focus on delivering the best possible care to your customers while keeping your pharmacy running smoothly.

Improves Production Speed

The process of packaging medications can be time-consuming, especially if you are a larger pharmacy that handles a high volume of prescriptions. This is where automation and packaging systems play a large role.

Firstly, they can reduce the time it takes to sort and package medications by accurately counting and filling prescriptions with the push of a button. This means that you can focus on other important tasks, such as patient consultations and medication reviews.

Secondly, these solutions can help eliminate errors and increase accuracy by using advanced technology. You can be assured that the right medication is packaged in the correct dose, with the correct label and secondary packaging, and delivered to the right patient. This not only improves operational efficiency but also reduces the risk of medication errors and helps maintain patient safety.

Finally, automation can optimize inventory management by reducing waste and avoiding stock-outs through features such as:

  • Tracking and managing inventory levels
  • Sending alerts when stocks are low
  • Ordering medications when necessary

Thus, your patients receive their medication on time without last-minute ordering or rush deliveries.

Get Your Pharmaceutical Packaging Faster Than

As the pharmaceutical industry continues to experience rapid growth, pharmaceutical packaging automation shows great potential to increase efficiency and production. Automation solutions provide you with the tools you need to keep up with ever-changing customer demands and stay competitive in the market. They also offer many benefits, such as: reducing labor costs, improving production speed, increasing accuracy, and more. Thus, whether you are looking for increased production speed or improved safety standards, developing effective automation strategies can help your business succeed in the future.