Pharmaspecs

What is operational qualification?

Operational Qualification is the next step after installation qualification in an equipment validation activity. This test is performed after the equipment is satisfactorily installed, and the buyer and manufacturer verify its installation. This article discusses what is an operational qualification, its template and some common checklist.

What is operational Qualification?

In operational Qualification, the equipment’s operation is validated against the designed parameters agreed upon during the design qualification phase. The equipment is run with the actual product and actual process parameters.

Operational qualification is the tests performed to verify the equipment operation according to the agreed specification

 

Operational Qualification’s main aim is to ensure that the equipment can operate with the desired process parameters, agreed upon during the design qualification. It also helps detect deviations in equipment operation, enabling both parties to put forward an action plan for resolving the issue.

Additionally, regulatory bodies such as the United States Food and Drug Administration critically review the Operational Qualification documents during their routine inspection. These regulatory bodies can issue warning if quality personnel do not perform and maintain Operational Qualification documentation.

Operational Qualification template

There is no fixed template for operational qualification. The only requirement is that every piece of information and test should be included in the OQ test.

The common format for the OQ test includes a tabular form with columns indicating desired test, its acceptance criteria, and the result, as shown below.

 

S.No. Test Acceptance

Criteria

Result Pass / Fail

 

In the above format, the following is the explanation of each column

 

 

Operational Qualification Checklist

Operational Qualification includes a series of tests to verify equipment operation against standard parameters. Before conducting OQ, tests are prepared in advance. The manufacturer and buyer both review and comment on it, and after approval of both parties, Operational Qualification is executed.

Common tests in Operational Qualification include the following.

Process Parameters

In this test, the equipment’s process parameters are checked. The process parameters should meet the specifications agreed upon during the design phase.

Qualification of process parameters is necessary because they impact the production process and final product. Any deviation in these process parameters drifts the final product away from standard specifications.

Some process parameters and their acceptance criteria can be as follows.

S.No Test Acceptance Criteria Result PASS / FAIL
1 Pressure

(chamber pressure)

(vessel pressure)

 

 

Vacuum Pressure

 

 

 

Pressure variation

 

 

 

 

The chamber / vessel  pressure must be at __ bar

 

The vacuum pressure must be ___bar

 

 

The pressure variation should remain within ____ bar

 

 

___ bar

 

 

 

___ bar

 

___ bar

2 Temperature

(chamber)

(forming, heating, sealing)

(Fluid Bed Dryer)

 

Temperature variation

 

The temperature must be ___ ⁰C

 

 

 

The temperature must remain in the range of ___ ⁰C

___⁰C

 

 

 

 

___⁰C

3 Time

(sterilization)

(Mixing, Granulation)

The time must be within ____ sec of  external calibrated timer ___ secs
4 Machine Speed

Run the machine at

____ / sec or /min, and verify it with external calibrated speedometer

 

Variation in machine speed must be within ___ min / secs min / secs

 

Safety System

In this stage, safety systems are verified.

The main aim of this test is to check whether the manufacturer has included all the safety mechanisms as agreed during the design phase. Additionally, whether these are active and perform according to the agreed specifications.

Some safety system check, common in operational qualification include the following

S.No Test Acceptance Criteria Result PASS / FAIL
1 Emergency switch

 

 

 

 

 

Emergency switch working

 

Emergency switch should be installed at

·         Front panel

·         Rear side

·         Discharge / end

 

Machine should immediately stop, without completing the cycle

 

2 Temperature safety system

 

 

 

 

 

Alarm indication

When temperature exceeds ___⁰C, it immediately aborts the process

 

Alarm indication on the front panel / HMI / front display

 

 

3 Pressure safety system

 

 

 

Safety valve

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alarm indication

When pressure exceeds ___ bar, it immediately aborts the process

 

Safety valve should open and immediately releases the pressure until pressure becomes normal

 

Alarm indication on the front panel / HMI / front display

4 Machine guarding All the moving parts should be cover by suitable covering, to eliminate human contact during its motion

 

Machine should not start, when these guards are not in place

 

Machine should stop, if these guards are removed in running machine.

5 Human safety sensors All the moving parts should include sensor, that detects the human presence

 

These sensors should stop machine operation with alarm indication when any human enters its vicinity

 

 

Main Control Panel

In this test, all control elements on the main panel are verified according to the specifications agreed upon during the design qualification stage.

Some common tests in this stage include the following

S.No Test Acceptance Criteria Result PASS / FAIL
1 Power Button

Press the Power – ON button

 

 

 

 

 

Press the Power – OFF button

 

 

 

Human Machine Interface / Graphical display

 

 

Machine should start with

·         HMI powered-up

·         Power indication on

 

Machine should powered – OFF disabling all Electronic, Electrical and Mechanical systems

 

 

 

 

HMI should display company logo with welcome screen

2 Start button

Press the start button

Machine process should start
3 Stop button

After process is started, press the stop button

Machine should stop process
4 Reset button All alarm should reset
5 Emergency button

Press the emergency button

Machine should immediately stop without completing the cycle
6 Printer Printer should print all parameters when this button is pressed
7 Indications

 

·         Start

 

 

 

 

·         Stop

 

 

 

 

·         Machine Running

 

 

 

·         Emergency

 

 

When start button is pressed,, indication should powered – up

 

 

When stop button is pressed,, indication should powered – up

 

 

 

 

 

 

When machine is normally running, this indication should ON

 

 

 

Emergency indication should ON, when Emergency button is pressed

 

 

 

 

Software System

This test verifies software systems according to the specifications agreed upon during the design qualification phase.

This test ensures that the manufacturer has provided all the software requirements.

Some common tests in this stage include the following.

S.No Test Acceptance Criteria Result PASS / FAIL
1 Operating Software The operating software must be of _____ make with ________ model and ______version
2 HMI software and version The HMI software must be ________ with _____ version
3 Batch Record The software must be able to record details of previous batches up to ___ days / months / year
4 Print The software must print all the batch parameters of a process
5 Audit Trail

·         Click the audit trail button

 

·         Click show data

 

Audit trail screen should appear

Screen should appear indicating each process of software amendments with time date, and User ID

 

Login Credentials

Login ID and Password levels are verified in this test according to the specifications agreed upon during the design qualification phase.

Common tests in this stage include the following.

S.No Test Acceptance Criteria Result PASS / FAIL
1 Press the Login button Login screen should appear
2 Enter User ID and its relevant Password HMI should show screen with relevant user level
3 Enter Incorrect Login ID and  Password Login ID and Password should fail and restricts access.
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