Environmental, Health and Safety News, Resources & Best Practices

What is Good Manufacturing Practice?

Written by Catherine Tims | May 19, 2023 at 3:00 PM

If you’re in the manufacturing industry, it’s essential to ensure you’re using fabricating and manufacturing methods that result in the creation of high-quality goods. 

In order to create the best quality goods you can afford to fabricate, it’s crucial to follow good manufacturing practice standards. But what is good manufacturing practice? What does this mean, and what are its benefits? Here’s what you should know.

Good Manufacturing Practice: Essential to Quality Control

Good manufacturing practice (GMP), sometimes referred to as “current good manufacturing practice”, is an essential aspect of the quality assurance process.  Following GMP guidelines provide a framework that helps manufacturers produce consistent products at high levels of quality. Adherence to your good manufacturing practice aids in meeting quality standards for your products as intended.

There are two aspects to GMP: high standards in production and also during in quality control endeavors. Good manufacturing practice processes define general guidelines for ensuring your production and testing processes are defined, reviewed, validated, and documented consistently, comprehensively, and with clarity. As a result, GMP can be applied to employees of a manufacturer, the production facilities they work in, and even the raw materials that are being used in production runs.

What Good Manufacturing Practice Provides to Companies

Companies that specialize in manufacturing products of any kind have a responsibility to maintain a set of GMP processes. These same companies also need to constantly review and update their good manufacturing practice standards, as this offers excellent benefits in the long term. This includes peace of mind knowing that the GMP standards that have been adopted will be effective in creating products of the best possible quality. These products end up in the hands of customers, and it’s a primary driver of any company to keep their customers happy.

Good manufacturing practice procedures ensure customer satisfaction rates are as high as possible. They also prevent defective products from entering wide distribution through rigorous product testing. The end result is that buyers are protected from risk just as manufacturers are protected from any liabilities due to defective or dangerous products they inadvertently sell.

The Final Word on Good Manufacturing Practice

GMP is an invaluable concept. When you establish a set of good manufacturing practice standards, your company produces better products than it would otherwise. Keeping your GMP standards updated as markets and capabilities change provides consistency in product quality. Without focusing on good manufacturing practice, your company risks damage to its brand whenever substandard products reach the general public – and in the case of defective products, even more damage to your company if customers suffer injuries or accidents as a result.