MP-A Seminars

Rational, transparent decision-making is vital for effective innovation management in the manufacturing process industries. Those prioritising projects and/or technological options on sustainability grounds early in the R&D cycle however face a twin challenge: holistic decisions must incorporate complex success criteria but there is invariably a substantial degree of uncertainty about the evaluation. We present both a practical framework for early-stage sustainability assessment amongst a set of alternatives and an improved method of multiple-criteria decision analysis, CURE (Computed Uncertainty Range Evaluations), illustrating through case study how they may be readily implemented to support a facilitated decision-making process in the pharmaceutical industry.

Presentation based on this published Blog:

Helium crisis revisited

Are we on the cusp of a helium crisis? There are many examples of scientists predicting that global helium reserves will be depleted in 20 to 35 years but we don’t believe this is credible. The Mineral Commodities Summaries 2023, produced by the US Geological Survey, part of the US Department of the Interior, reports that global reserves of helium total 39,850,700 million cubic metres. The Geological Survey has very detailed accounts of reserves and production, but it does not give consumption figures. If we assume consumption is equivalent to the production of 160,000 million cubic metres, then reserves for 249 years are calculated [4]. Based on 2019 data [1], supplies are adequate for an estimated 335 years,

The largest terrestrial helium reserves are in the US. In 2022, the US was responsible for 46.9% of global production4. About 75% of this helium is extracted from natural gas of the Panhandle-Hugoton field, which straddles Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. This natural gas is helium-rich, with an average concentration of 0.586% [2]. Helium has been found in concentrations as high as 8% in some global sources of natural gas. In the US, the lowest practical helium concentration that can economically justify extraction is about 0.3% [3]. Qatar is the second-largest producer, with 37.5% of global production in 2022. The US and Qatar together accounted for 84.4% of world production in 2022, followed by Algeria (5.6%), Russia (3.1%) and Australia (2.5%) [4].

According to many sources, we are still being affected by a helium shortage that began in 2019 as a result of the prolonged closure of the world’s largest purification facility in the US and critical maintenance at another two of the world’s eighth-largest purification plants. This became more pronounced in 2021 and 2022. The price of helium saw an increase of 300% between 2000 and 2020.

References
1. LCGC blog, 11/4/22. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/not-another-helium-crisis-
2. Brown, A (2019). Origin of Helium and Nitrogen in the Panhandle-Hugoton Field of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, US. AAPG Bull. 103 (2), 369–403. doi:10.1306/07111817343
3. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (2000). The Impact of Selling the Federal Helium Reserve. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/9860
4. Mineral Commodities Summaries 2023, US Geological Survey, US Department of the Interior. https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2023/mcs2023.pdf

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 is good health and well-being. Within that goal, key 2030 targets are to end preventable deaths in children under 5, end epidemics of common and neglected diseases and significantly improve mortality from non-communicable diseases. The pharmaceutical industry will play a major role in enabling that goal and chemical engineers, in turn, enable the industry to scale up production and run plants in a safe, efficient and – this is increasingly important – sustainable way.

“Engineering a Sustainable World – the chemical engineering challenge”, published by the Institution of Chemical Engineers this year, sets out how the profession will contribute to addressing the SDGs. Peter Iles-Smith, one of the advisors contributing to this document, will set out the challenge for the pharmaceuticals industry, how chemical engineering contribute to solving it, and what changes, innovations and skills we need to make it happen.

In today's dynamic and competitive business landscape, professional development has become an essential cornerstone for individual and organisational success. This presentation, titled "Navigating the Path to Success: Professional Development for Growth, Progression, and Succession," delves into the critical strategies and practices required to ensure personal and organizational growth, progression, and smooth succession planning.

Changing the quality culture of a business

"The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails."
Identifying the common areas businesses struggle to get engagement
• Input into quality events
• Reviewing and understanding SOPs
• Incorporating Quality into decision making
Finding solutions to improve engagement
• Showing how Quality can make their roles easier i.e. can aid them implementing a change by interdepartmental collaboration
• Effective training so the purpose of an SOP is understood – it is a document to help processes and are always a working progress
• Demonstrating the impact engaging with quality events can have on the processes, they can be part of the solutions to bring the company forward