Great speakers and insight into the latest trends and technologies in the global pharmaceutical industry. PACIV recently attended the ISPE (International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering) ‘Productivity & Innovation in Advanced Pharma Manufacturing’ Conference at The Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa in Cork, Ireland with the representation of Brendan Hyland, Business Development Manager and Geraldine Nolan, HR/Administrator Lead (PACIV – Ireland). The conference offered great business development and networking opportunities with our partners in the field. The event is also a great way to gain insight into the latest trends and technologies in the global pharmaceutical industry. Presentations and key note speaker themes included: Practical Implementation...

Recently, PACIV participated in the Corriente Verde Environmental Magazine Fair. In this event, PACIV had the opportunity to visit and showcase their services to Haemonetics, Stryker and Coopevision plants in Puerto Rico. The Corriente Verde Environmental Magazine Fair is a business tour where companies share their services and other information at the premises of the companies such as Haemonetics, Stryker and Coopevision. The associates that participated in the event were Suliman Rodriguez, Sr. Automation Engineer, and Jaroldi González, Communications Representative II. This expo provided an unequalled opportunity to meet with prospective clients from all aspects of the control system integration and automation industry and obtaining business leads. PACIV’s global leadership...

Rick Straw, President, and Jorge L. Rodríguez, CEO, recently attended the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) Executive Conference in San Francisco, CA. At the conference, our CEO Jorge Rodríguez participated as panelist in the “A Tale of Two Hurricanes and an Earthquake” presentation. He shared the experiences and lessons learned regarding “Disaster & Recovery” and “Business Continuity” after going through Hurricane Maria in PACIV’s offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico. PACIV has been a member of CSIA for over 10 years. There are 500 integrators from around the world that attend the conference to benchmark best practices, discuss challenges facing our businesses and for suppliers to present new equipment and hardware. Themed “Growth...

Brendan Hyland, Business Development Manager, and Denis Gorey, Vice President Operations at PACIV-Ireland attended the ISA Cybersecurity Conference at Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork. The conference focused on Industrial Cyber Security and preventing/mitigating the damage that a cyber-attack will have on Automation Systems – across e.g. Manufacturing, Critical Utilities, Healthcare and Transportation sectors. International experts, from leading Control Systems Manufacturers, presented practical solutions to increasing Cyber Security difficulties – so systems and infrastructure can be better protected. Additionally, the conference highlighted how to identify cyber threats, mitigate risks & limit exposure of control systems and networks, introduced proven industrial...

Over 25 years ago, as an Automation Engineer, I was responsible for process automation systems (DCS and PLC’s) at a pharmaceutical company. The company happened to be the very first one to get an FDA “Warning Letter” on “computerized systems”. Computerized systems within the industry were regulated at that time solely by 21 CFR 211.68. In 2015 and 2016, approximately 80 percent of all warning letters include a “data integrity” component. The leading observation within that 80% continues to be based on 21 CFR 211.68, a 40-year-old ruling. At the time we received the “Warning Letter”, a task-force of Automation Engineers was formed to understand the FDA’s 211.68 ruling (1978). We found the 1983 “Guide To Inspection of Computerized Systems in Drug Processing” used by FDA Inspectors to be...

Recently, our PACIV Puerto Rico Engineering Leader, Jean Paul Pepin, traveled to the USA office and led a week-long DeltaV workshop for some of our USA and Ireland associates. (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: PACIV associates Eric Broyer, Allison Beddow, Jonah Pettet, Jacob Dispennett, Vito Maglio, Ben Kahn, Jean Paul Pepin and Michelle Vander Missen.) The course allows our associates to sufficiently define system capabilities, define nodes, configure continuous and sequential control strategies, create process alarms, operate the system, troubleshoot the system and modify operator displays. PACIV utilizes a virtual DeltaV™ system to practice and review course materials. The course also touched on the DeltaV™ Batch application;  it is planned...

Recently, PACIV held its 2017 Annual Meeting in all its offices to discuss industry context, strategic objectives and provide all the associates with the 2017 Year in Review as well as the 2018 Forecast, Insights and Objectives. (TOP PICTURE CLOCKWISE: Associates from PACIV Puerto Rico, PACIV Ireland and PACIV USA.) Additionally, acknowledgments & awards were given to the associates in recognition of their years of service as well as Perfect Attendance for the year. Our Rhode Island team. At this year PACIV Ireland Annual Meeting, the new associates were welcomed into the PACIV family. The PACIV Ireland office has seen enormous growth the past year and the meeting helped associates come together and learn more about the company. At the PACIV USA Annual Meeting, the Perfect...

Brendan Hyland, Business Development Manager/Director at PACIV Ireland, recently attended the ISA (International Society of Automation) Honors & Awards Ceremony at University College Cork (UCC). (TOP PICTURE: Brendan Hyland and John Murphy, ISA Ireland President.) ISA holds this annual ceremony to acknowledge and encourage excellence for those training for careers in Instrumentation, Systems and Automation. This program provides an opportunity for ISA to recognize outstanding individuals for the contributions they have made to the Society and the automation industry. PACIV as an ISA Ireland Section Partner, continues providing ongoing support and we are delighted to be a sponsor and represent at these activities that clearly show the industry’s awareness and support...

Recently the PACIV Puerto Rico office sponsored the local baseball team “Los Cangrejeros de Santurce” and gained access to the Baseball League Season games. The associates were able to attend and enjoy the games throughout the season with their family and friends. (TOP PICTURE: View of the Hiram Bithorn Stadium from the luxury booth the PACIV associates enjoyed the games.) More over and as part of our sponsorship for the team “Los Cangrejeros de Santurce”, PACIV was invited for a Family Baseball Day. At the Family Baseball Day, the associates and their families watched the game from one of the luxury boxes and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and drinks. The associates also enjoyed a visit from the Cangrejeros team President, Justo Moreno, who interacted with the associates,...

PACIV Puerto Rico associates Luis García and Amilcar Canales, both Validation Engineers I, recently relocated to Indianapolis for eight (8) weeks and successfully assisted in a large Waste Water Treatment Facility Project and Lilly’s Global Serialization Program respectively. As members of the Automation and Quality team, Luis and Amilcar supported automation activities for the startup of a two-pump wastewater lift station and the development of Serialization Program cases. In addition to supporting our client needs and enhancing their professional careers, the trip was also a wonderful adventure. They were able to visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and see around the Indiana area. (TO THE RIGHT: Amilcar Canales and Luis García at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway...