INTRODUCTION: – The pharmaceutical industry is facing a tremendous changes and challenges nowadays. It has been observed that lack of proficient, talented, capable employees has enforced organization to be innovative in formulating methods to maintain their priceless workforce. To survive in the highly competitive scenario, industry is precise to improve quality, increase productivity, cut down waste and cost and eliminate inefficiency. The modern pharmaceutical industry come of age with the introduction of guidelines laid down by several regulatory bodies that new pharmaceutical product proven to be safe and effective before they can be marketed and sold. The employees of pharma need to be trained in order to meet the challenges of pharma industry. Effective training programs always impart responsibility in all employees to perform their tasks with utmost care and commitment. In the healthcare manufacturing industry each employee needs job specific training in technical skills, SOPs, and awareness of the GMP. To satisfy this requirement, companies must adopt a systematic approach to training design, development, and implementation. Training helps the pharmaceutical industry to meet the compliance, consumer safety, product quality and to their development. Regulatory Agencies around the world has drawn certain Guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) which highlights the importance of proper training with relevant documentations to be conducted by Pharmaceutical Industries. As per FDA 483 observations, training isn’t done well, isn’t timely or effective, isn’t always meaningful. Individuals working in a GMP environment should be trained on concepts of GMP. Recent warning letters and 483s issued by the agency and “observations of noncompliance” show what companies lack. The Gold Sheet listed “training” as an item in 10 of the 71 warning letters issued. Human errors are also significant factors in almost every quality problem, equipment shutdown or accident in industrial and manufacturing facilities.
The effective training module will give scope to learn and understand about the importance of training for personnel in each department to curb the human errors caused by lack of proper training system.
Procedural Overview

• Training need identification
• Preparation and maintenance of training planner
• Training Design/Plan/Model

Training Requirements, Identify/Select Trainers

• Training programs
• Validation of training
• Effective implementation of training program
• Assessment/Evaluation of training and feedback
• Retraining
• Periodic review of training program
• Training records/ documentation and retention

Training Needs Identification:- The first step in training is identification of training needs. Respective HODs shall identify their own training needs periodically. HODs shall identify training needs of personnel working with them based on a Skill Gap Analysis.
 Formula: Desired Capabilities – Existing Capabilities =Training Needs
 Department manager /designee including immediate superior shall identify the training need matrix for all employees. It shall be drawn based on following situations but not limited to:

• Area of operation /function of the employee/specific skill needs
• Responsibility of the employee
• Annual employee appraisal process
• Discrepancy arising out of internal or regulatory inspections
• Change in regulatory guidelines
• A new product /equipment/customer introduction to the facility
• Feedback from various levels in the organization
• Unusual incidents / occurrences

Wherever necessary, other qualitative methods of training need identification shall also be applied with prior authorization from top management team. The qualitative methods could be the use of interviews, questionnaires. This exercise of training need identification shall be jointly done by the department head with a representative of training/personnel department and concerned employee. Training need matrix for the training of personnel on SOP’s, technical/non- technical/GXP shall be prepared by the individual manager/designee and approved by respective department heads.
Preparation of Training Planner:- Each department shall have a job description and individual training plan for its employees so that the employees obtain the qualitative knowledge, skill and attitude supported with adequate experience necessary to perform the assigned job effectively. The annual training planner shall be prepared and updated by quality assurance department.
Training shall be executed based on the various levels as described below, but not limited to

• Level I Operator
• Level II Technical Trainees/ non-technical trainees
• Level III Analysts/ Senior Analysts
• Level IV Team Leaders /Asst Managers/Deputy Managers/Manager/Sr. Manager
• Level V Department Heads

Training Design/Plan:- When designing a training course, the training Plan identifies the topics to be covered and a training method, such as a presentation, case study, demonstration and other activities that convey information to the trainee.
Selecting the Trainer’s:- The selection of trainer’s is a critical factor for the success of a training program. A satisfactory performance does not qualify a person as a trainer because other skills are needed. Selection criteria are based on individual experience on relevant subject, familiarity with departmental procedure and level of competence in GMP/cGMP at workplace. Trainer shall be identified by concern department head and Quality Assurance department head. Certificate for qualified trainer shall be jointly issued by department head and Quality Assurance department head. Trainer shall be subsequently evaluated by reviewing the Feedback Form on trainer and training program. Trainers must have complete knowledge of the subject, good communication skills, strong desire to meet trainee’s needs with a great desire to train. For each training course it is recommended that minimum trainer requirements are established, each trainer attends train the trainer’s course. The trainer’s qualification has to be documented.
TRAINING PROGRAMS
Training of New Recruits – Orientation and Induction
Phase I – A General Orientation:- This should be given to all new recruits. An Orientation of Staff document is initiated and training shall be given with a view to facilitate entry into the organization and to acquaint with the systems and procedures as applicable. Phase I training should be carried out during the employee’s first day in the company.
Phase II – A Specific Orientation:- This training is aimed at new recruits in each area, department or section whose activities take them into production areas or into control laboratories including maintenance and cleaning staff, and for other personnel whose activities could impact on product quality. A brief previous experience shall be filled for the documentation purpose. The induction training shall be carried out in accordance with the schedule specified in Training program during Induction. The details of departmental training imparted shall be recorded by the training coordinator in the Departmental Induction Training Record. Phase II training should also be considered for personnel if they are transferred from one department to another department.
WORK-SPECIFIC AREA TRAINING  
cGMP Training:- This training must cover topics related to cGMP of regulatory agencies and current industry practices. Training material to be used for cGMP training shall be approved by head Quality Assurance Department Head-Operations. All employees shall undergo GMP training upon joining during induction and thereafter once in a year. After training, the evaluation is done by giving GMP questionnaires.
On-The-Job Training (OJT):- Department head/sectional in charge shall be responsible for conducting OJT and department head/ head quality assurance department shall be responsible for evaluating training performance. On the job training shall be given as per the SOP’s to the employees in their respective areas of operation according to the protocols of individual departments. During this period employee shall be trained for usage of equipment, various unit operations, safety norms to be followed, Quality Assurance procedures, general rules and SOP’s, validation and calibration procedures, cGMP, preventive maintenance as applicable.
SOP Training:- The new employees shall also be trained to applicable and/ or necessary standard operating procedures /modules, required to perform their job as per their Job Responsibilities, before they execute the responsibility independently. The concerned department head shall ensure that the employee will not perform his/her work until he gets complete training as per his/her Job Description. Training either new or experienced personnel on new SOPs, can be conducted as follows. The supervisor will provide the current copy of the SOP related to the task and allocate time for reading. The supervisor will review the SOP with the trainee and will answer any questions regarding the documents.
The supervisor will show the trainee how to do the task. The trainee will perform the procedure by himself/herself under supervision. The supervisor will review the work in such a way that positive performance will be reinforced. A checklist to evaluate the performance of the trainee can be very helpful.
The trainee will perform the procedure without supervision. When the supervisor is satisfied with the trainee’s performance, the supervisor and the trainee will sign the training record. Such training will be recorded and maintained in SOP Training Record
Safety and Hygiene Training:- The safety department identifies those who need to have  safety training, which may be given individually or to a group of employees in the same or related occupations. The topics approached will be defined according to the existing risks and complexities. These should cover: The knowledge of mechanisms of exposure to the specific risk agent, including toxic chemicals, biohazards and sensitive machineries. The appropriate use of personal protection items, how to proceed in an emergency. A Training Certificate shall be issued to successful employee. Only successful employee shall be allowed to perform his assigned duties and responsibilities independently.
Job-Change Training:- Job change training may be organized and accomplished in these ways. Review the employee’s training record, Review the training requirements for the new job position, prepare a training plan for the employee based on the analysis of the employee training record v/s the training requirements for the new job; consider the orientation to the department in case of movement to another department.
Training to Contract / Temporary Employees:- This type of training presents a special challenge for most manufacturers because, by their very nature, temporary and contract workers are transient. Temporary employees and contractors whose work takes them into production areas or quality control laboratories and those whose work can impact the quality of the product must be trained. They should be educated and trained robustly to get desired results without any deviations. Training records for these personnel also require special attention and shall be filled.
Managers Training and Supervisors Training:- Managers need to be trained in their responsibilities under cGMPs and good laboratory practice (GLPs). It is the responsibility of the supervisor to provide clear direction, to lead by example, to set high standards of performance, to provide feedback (mostly positive), and to ensure adequate resources (especially time).
Trainer’s Training:- On-the-job and SOP trainers shall be recognized as experts in the area or in the tasks that they perform. They shall also understand the best ways to teach tasks and procedures. Group trainers shall have “presentation skills” to use.
Crisis Management Training:- Pharmaceutical companies are highly exposed to critical situations. Manufacturing of drugs and handling of other problems sometimes leads to serious results. However, managing and overcoming of all these require specialization in handling critical issues. Critical management skills can be enhanced and brought into practice by highest level of training. This can help the organization to meet all the possibilities of possible serious crisis in the company. It is given either by an expert or through some training institutions.
Validation of Training:- Validation provides assurance that your training program is meeting expected standards. Validation is the certification process that assures trainees have achieved the skills and knowledge training was intended to provide. At the conclusion of a training program, employees should have the skills to move on to the next step in their education or to progress in their job. The system of training shall be audited during self-inspection/internal audits and wherever necessary reviewed during product quality reviews.
Assessment and Evaluation of Training:- There are several assessment methods to evaluate knowledge, skills and attitudes, Oral examination, written examination (using paper or computer systems), Simulations (actual or virtual using computers), Performance-based assessment. “Self-assessments” are used frequently in self-study and computer-based courses to give the trainee a chance to evaluate how much they have learned. Self-assessment can be recorded with a form which can be documented for further evaluation. Evaluation should be appropriately graded to ensure that the objectives set for the training are met and they form a basis for the review and next training activity.

• Name
• Designation
• Department
• Signature
• Reviewed by

Training Feedback:- A training program can be evaluated on the basis of feedback collected from the attendees regarding the training pattern, trainers, topics, facilities provided, materials provided etc. Combination of questionnaire and feedback form will lead to know and understand the quality of a training program as well as the trainer himself for a better evaluation.
Retraining:- Remedial training is given when there is evidence that the original training was not adequate, resulting in a person who cannot correctly, safely, effectively or efficiently perform the task. Remedial training is frequently used incorrectly as corrective actions for deviations or failures.
Periodic Review of Training:- The top management team shall review the training program with personnel department periodically. Also, department head shall review the Individual Training Plan with the employees periodically to ensure that the plan has been completed for satisfactory performance of the functions employees expected to perform.
Training Records, Documentation and Retention:- Training records provide the evidence that the training was carried out. Quality assurance should audit training records periodically. User department will be responsible for preparation of training planner, verify the training records of the entire employee as per their job description, keeping and maintaining a copy of training planner. The training records shall be archived as specified in the document management SOP’s. The department heads shall ensure updating of training records.

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 Reference links
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310615967_Personnel_training_for_pharmaceutical_industry