Added Pharma

About Added Pharma

Added Pharma supplies medical products to (hospital) pharmacies and plays a crucial role in the safe preparation of medication. When demand for SmartSyringe (sterilized, empty syringes for hospital use) skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic, the company found itself in a race against time. Its assembly partner in the Netherlands unexpectedly ceased operations at the end of 2020. Added Pharma had to set up a new, reliable, and high-quality assembly line within a few weeks.

The company ended up at A-kwadraat via its transport partner Van Rooijen. "Right from the first meeting, we felt that it was a good fit," says Jacqueline Wijsman, marketing and product manager and project leader for the transition.

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How we strengthen Added Pharma together

A-kwadraat set up a new assembly line in record time. This involved both adopting existing protocols and implementing improvements to increase quality and efficiency.

Specifically, A-kwadraat provides support in the following areas:

• Assembling multipacks of SmartSyringe syringes, in various volumes and product variants
• Packaging of pharmaceutical products
• Optimizing routing and production flow to reduce time and contamination risk
• Implementing interim checks and quality controls
• Revision of component sheet and packaging requirements, including additional cleaning steps and ergonomic improvements

What makes this collaboration special is the speed and depth of the start-up. In just 1.5 to 2 months, production was up and running, with stable output, high quality, and a team that was perfectly trained.

A-kwadraat also purchased some of the equipment from its previous partner, an example of socially responsible and circular entrepreneurship.

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How we work together

A quick transition provides room for improvement

The transition went beyond simply copying existing processes. Added Pharma and A-kwadraat critically reviewed each step together. The result is an assembly line that is more efficient, ergonomic, and safer than before.

Some optimizations:

• Stricter hygiene procedures
  Additional gloves, modified clothing, extra cleaning steps, and a streamlined access protocol increase aseptic quality.
• Improved workflow & routing
  Fewer actions, less movement, and more focus. Everything that reduces time and risk has been adjusted.
• Interim checks refined
  From weighing bags to extra checks on quantities and caps. This reduced the margin of error to a minimum.
• New component sheets and improved sealing
  Neater packaging, clear information, and a more visually professional end product.
• Collaborative planning via SharePoint
  One shared system, less miscommunication, more flow.

Jacqueline:

“It's great how A-kwadraat thinks along with us. They invest in improvements, not because we ask them to, but because they genuinely want to optimize the process.”

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Satisfied with the output? Absolutely!

The figures speak for themselves: "A-kwadraat will have processed almost 1.5 million syringes between January and September 2021. That output is remarkable. We can be proud of that."

An impressive achievement in the midst of a pandemic.

The accuracy of A-kwadraat is remarkable. You don't get this level of precision from a group of students or temporary workers. They are naturally precise and attentive.

The first quality audit in Turnhout was also immediately positive, which further strengthened confidence.

Added Pharma also acquired a permanent production line, which provides scope for further growth. 

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The added value of A-kwadraat

For Added Pharma, A-kwadraat is much more than an executive partner. It is an organization where quality, humanity, and process optimization come together.

• Understanding & shared values
  Both companies operate according to high quality standards. Added Pharma immediately saw parallels, especially when A-kwadraat obtained its EFQM label.
• Calmness and goodwill
  Jacqueline: “There is a natural calmness at A-kwadraat. You can feel that people there are guided in a warm, respectful manner. That brings a completely different energy to a project like this.”‍
• Growth through humanity
  More attention, more precision, more commitment. The human aspect makes a visible difference in quality and experience.
• Daring to innovate
  We dared to invest in processes, equipment, and improvements, even under enormous time pressure. "We often forget to give compliments, but I am so grateful to everyone. There is courage, willpower, and a lot of warmth. That is what makes A-kwadraat unique.”

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How we make an impact together

Thanks to the collaboration, Added Pharma was able to:

• Continue SmartSyringe assembly during a global health crisis
• improve quality despite a lower cleanroom class
• scaling up production and making it future-proof
• engage a sustainable and socially valuable partner

A relocation that initially seemed like a threat ultimately became an opportunity for innovation and growth.