The image below is that depicted by the International Conference of Harmonisation (ICH) Q10, Annex 2, and is supposed to depict a PQS or Pharmaceutical Quality System.

Typically, I really love the ICH. When we have to deal with outdated regulations from different global organizations it becomes a real nightmare trying to keep track of the nuances and the ICH has done a pretty good job of bringing several of the key organizations together and aligning them on how best to organize and meet the expected requirements.

That being said the diagram below and the depiction in Q10 of what a PQS should look like is greatly lacking.

Development Phases

In section 1.8 under the Quality Manual the ICH Q10 guidance states, “The description of the PQS should include: …(c) Identification of the pharmaceutical quality system processes, as well as their sequences, linkages and interdependencies.

Process maps and flow charts can be useful tools to facilitate depicting the pharmaceutical quality system processes in a visual manner”.

I completely agree.

The problem is using the graphical depiction they present in Annex 2 is completely worthless.

Basically they listed some of the PQS elements in a bar and then said they all apply to the entire product lifecycle, which simply isn’t true.

When we are in the development phase of our product lifecycle why would we do that under the change management system, or monitor process performance?

Controlling Change – No Value Add

There is no point in controlling changes for a product that is purposely being changed, nor does it offer any value to monitor the process performance for a process that has yet to be developed.

This isn’t a graphic depiction of the PQS, but rather a graphic of how they depict the lifecycle management (which also has some issues).

The PQS is the quality system and its subsystems and how they interrelate.

While it’s useful to look at how the PQS and product Lifecycle Management overlap and what elements of the PQS system are relevant at each lifecycle stage, it is not the point of the PQS, and even if that’s the end goal it’s not depicted here at all.

This image offers almost no value.

A Better Approach

So, what should this graphic look like?

While this is not a perfect view of a PQS, I would propose that the image below is a much better depiction of how the PQS should be visualized and a good place to start.

At the core of any quality system should be management. This goes back to Deming, who said, “Quality begins with the intent that is fixed by Management”.

Quality has to be rooted in the executive management team.

Define Core Quality Systems

Core quality systems then need to be defined. These are systems that impact all aspects of the business and include a Risk Management Policy, Resource Management, Document Control and CAPA systems.

All of the other subsystems, Deviations, Supplier Management, Equipment Qualifications, Validation, Material Management, etc, etc. all should be risk based or involve risk assessment, they all require resources and training, they call require documents (procedures, policies, records), and the CAPA system of course drives for process improvement regardless of the process.

Subsystems

All subsystems feed back into the main Management module. The subsystems listed, all are interconnected, with the exception of Post Market Systems.

The subsystems are important too, but they are farmed out to different groups and have different levels of importance depending on the stage of the product lifecycle.

Post Market Systems

The one exception is the Post Market Systems. This includes complaint management, product reviews, recall processes and other systems to support marketed products.

These generally do not interact with the other subsystems unless it is through the CAPA system or other management functions, but still utilizes all the systems under the management umbrella.

Alternate View

The PQS presented here, isn’t intended to be perfect, but I thought it was worth presenting an alternate view to the one presented by the ICH.

The ICH concept is a good one, and the ideas are fairly well laid out in the ICH, but the graphical representation of the PQS leaves a lot to be desired.

When establishing a PQS, it is better to start with something to what we’ve depicted here, and customize it as needed for the organization.