GMP. What is it? Importance, users, and a simple business guide.

• Facebook
• X
• Line

What is GMP? “GMP” stands for “Good Manufacturing Practice.” Before entrepreneurs and factory owners within the country start operating or launching their businesses, the most essential thing is to study and understand the regulations and various standards in the factory. This is to comply with operational procedures that will lead to the creation of a system within the organization and the timely delivery of quality products to consumers. GMP standards, in particular, are among the processes according to international standards that entrepreneurs must prioritize.

This is because GMP is a guarantee that your factory, or other factories, are safe and of good quality, and whether they are suitable for distribution to consumers in various places. This article will inform everyone about how important GMP standards are for use as a guideline in operating your factory business. Let’s get to know it together.

Table of Contents

1. What is GMP

2. What are the different types of GMP

3. What aspects does GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) cover

4. The objective and advantages of GMP standards

• Benefits of the GMP Standard

5. The importance of GMP for factories

6. Currently, GMP has changed to GHP

7. GMP standards and renting a factory or warehouse

GMP stands for (Good Manufacturing Practice) or “good manufacturing practice regulations”. It is a system that ensures that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards. It is designed to minimize the risks involved in production, such as in food, cosmetics, and other products, that cannot be eliminated by testing the final product. It covers all aspects of production.  

From the starting materials, premises, and equipment to the training and personal hygiene of staff. Detailed written procedures are essential for each process that could affect the quality of the finished product. There must be systems to provide documented proof that the correct procedures are consistently followed at each step in the manufacturing process – every time a product is made.

Currently, there are two main types of GMP standards:

• General GMP: These are standard guidelines applied to all types of food products and general products.
• Specific GMP: These are standard guidelines and approaches developed to monitor and maintain product quality. They typically focus on the specific characteristics of that product group, such as pharmaceuticals, drinking water, cosmetics, or medical devices, to ensure that the production process and product quality comply with established standards.

GMP audits and covers every aspect of the manufacturing process to prevent risks that could negatively impact the product, such as contamination, adulteration, and incorrect labeling, all of which affect the safety and quality of the product. According to GMP guidelines, this includes everything from the location of the establishment, building structure, and the factory where the business operates.

This also encompasses the equipment and machinery used in the production process. Good and quality-controlled manufacturing begins from the initial planning of the production process and covers the raw material production system, product packaging, product storage, product quality control, all the way to the transportation methods to the consumer. It includes inspection and monitoring of product quality, personnel and operators involved in the process, as well as record-keeping systems, sanitation and hygiene management systems, etc., so that the final product is of good quality and safety, ensuring the quality of the organization’s products when delivered to consumers.

The main objective of GMP standards is for manufacturers to consider preventative measures for their own products against various hazardous contaminants. This includes chemical, microbiological, and physical contaminants from the factory workers, which could potentially end up in the product. Most commonly, these contaminants come from the environment, the building’s structure where there’s a lot of dust, and old machinery and equipment with things like rust and machine oil.

This is due to a lack of regular cleaning. Operations at each stage of production are very important, including managing the hygiene of the factory workers, and the cleanliness and maintenance of the machinery used in the production process. Product-specific GMP focuses on controlling the production process of specific products, expanding the details of control to prevent contamination more clearly.

1. Consumers receive safe products, free of contamination, of good quality, and suitable for consumption.
2. It serves as a quality management system guideline to ensure that manufactured products meet safe quality standards.
3. It reduces the chances of producing substandard products, helping to detect errors and deviations that may occur in the production process.
4. It facilitates various aspects of the production process and industry, including the safety of workers while performing their duties.
5. It helps to foster a positive and significant attitude within the manufacturing industry, both at the personnel and organizational levels.
6. It creates a standardized system that is easy and convenient for tracking information.
7. It can help increase efficiency in many aspects of the maintenance process, management, and internal factory assessments.
8. It plays a crucial role in preventing defects that occur in the production process or quality control, as well as eliminating recurring problems.
9. It helps reduce production costs and increases long-term food quality according to strict standards for production and quality at all levels of the process.
10. It helps entrepreneurs have a strict and efficient control system for their operations, maintaining the correct standards of cleanliness and hygiene in the factory.

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are a crucial system that every manufacturing facility should implement. They ensure the proper design, monitoring, and control of manufacturing processes and facilities. Companies that adhere to these standards help guarantee the identity, strength, and quality of their products. Certainly, GMP is a standard and quality assurance system that is globally recognized as a good standard requirement, covering all aspects of production with high reliability. This makes factories that use these requirements have good safety and are not harmful to consumers.

Therefore, GMP is one of the primary international standards that is accepted by entrepreneurs, businesses, consumers, and food academics worldwide. Consequently, to achieve positive results, operators can fully comply with GMP requirements. This will enable them to produce goods or products that adhere to health and safety principles and good hygiene for consumers. Importantly, the products of the factory operators will be considered high-quality products according to international standards, and they will have a competitive advantage in terms of better output compared to other factories producing similar goods.

GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) has been changed to GHP (Good Hygiene Practices) nowadays, a standard used to control production and hygiene in the food and pharmaceutical industries. This change may have occurred due to developments and improvements in quality control and product safety, which are crucial in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The use of GHP allows manufacturers to ensure that their products are of high quality and safe for consumers. The World Health Organization, therefore, established the Codex Committee.

And since Codex has already announced that when GHP is officially implemented, regardless of the date, it will immediately come into force, requiring all factory operators to comply with the regulations immediately. There will be no grace period for system adjustments. Auditors conducting subsequent audits will immediately audit those factories according to the GHP standard, as it has been publicly announced.

The changes are detailed as follows:

1. The standard name has changed from Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to General Principles of Food Hygiene: Good Hygiene Practices (GHP).
2. Requirements are written in a new, updated manner.
3. Increased control and prevention of hazards related to allergens, which are substances that can cause allergic reactions in some people.
4. Defining a new HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) document format is crucial, helping manufacturers plan and implement controls for risks associated with the food and pharmaceutical industries.
5. The addition of verification for some critical control measures helps ensure that those measures are implemented correctly and effectively control risks related to the food and pharmaceutical industries.

For any entrepreneur looking for factory or warehouse rental services that adhere to international GMP standards, this should be a top priority. Considerations should start with the location and area of the factory or warehouse for rent, essential facilities, and the timing of your business’s inbound and outbound logistics. The building’s structure and the layout planning for different functional areas are also crucial to ensure control over the production process and product quality according to standards, as well as safe storage and transportation of goods to customers or directly to consumers, maintaining the highest product quality.

GMP is therefore an important standard that entrepreneurs should consider before renting a factory, warehouse, or storage facility. Because it is an international standard and a system that can guarantee product quality, rental factories and warehouses should comply with GMP standards to ensure the quality of the goods.