Vanguard SystemsVanguard Systems
Pharmaceutical automation, French-speaking Switzerland

Pharma automation: delivering in GMP without slipping.

10+ years on regulated pharma sites in French-speaking Switzerland and Basel. PCS7, WinCC, TIA Portal, Rockwell PlantPAx, fill & finish, WFI, ISA-88 batch. FAT/SAT/IQ/OQ documentation compliant with GAMP5 and 21 CFR Part 11. Core business of Vanguard Systems.

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Field reality

Pharma-specific challenges in Switzerland

01

Demanding GMP validation: every PLC or SCADA change must be documented, justified and tested per GAMP5. Non-compliant delivery = costly time-to-market delay.

02

Multi-stakeholder coordination: machine OEMs, integrator, site team, validation, quality, IT. Without clear ownership, FAT/SAT milestones slip.

03

Heterogeneous stack: you need both Siemens (PCS7, WinCC, S7) and Rockwell (ControlLogix, FactoryTalk) depending on equipment. Single-vendor specialization is a trap.

04

Production continuity: any intervention on a batch line must be prepared to minimize downtime. No room for error on sensitive products.

Our method

Our pharma approach

We start with rapid scoping to identify the real blockers (GMP, technical, schedule). We deliver on the defined scope with audit-ready documentation for internal or ANSM/Swissmedic inspection. Our partner Eric Rouane brings 20+ years of CQV (commissioning, qualification, validation) for projects requiring dual batch and system qualification expertise.

Technical stack used

Technologies we master in this sector

  • Siemens PCS7
  • Siemens WinCC
  • TIA Portal
  • SIMATIC BATCH
  • Rockwell ControlLogix
  • Rockwell PlantPAx
  • FactoryTalk
  • Wonderware AVEVA
  • PI System
  • Kneat
  • Trackwise
  • Veeva Vault
  • GAMP5
  • 21 CFR Part 11
  • ISA-88
  • ISA-95

Project evidence

Pharma references

  • Merck Serono — Corsier-sur-Vevey

    +20% team efficiency, -35% incident resolution time, -30%+ air handling unit energy consumption

  • Acteur pharma majeur — Bâle

    Integrated production / quality / supply chain digital platform, +50% operational visibility, year-1 ROI

  • Big Pharma — Bâle

    AI agent for GMP process optimization, -15% energy consumption, +8% availability, GMP validation passed

  • Takeda — Fill & finish

    Full commissioning FAT/SAT/IQ/OQ, multi-vendor integration, zero major GMP deviation

  • Lonza — Visp

    30-year-old line renovation / 1200 I/O in Ex zone, +15% availability, -30% maintenance costs

See all detailed case studies

Related services

Our services for this sector

Industrial automation

Vanguard Systems core business: multi-vendor industrial automation engineering (Siemens, Rockwell, Beckhoff, Emerson) on pharma, biotech, microtechnology, food & beverage and OEM sites in French-speaking Switzerland. 10+ years of field experience in regulated (GMP, GAMP5) and non-regulated environments. From design to commissioning, operations support, retrofit and migration.

Qualification and validation (CQV)

Complete support for qualification and validation in GMP environments: Factory Acceptance Test, Site Acceptance Test, installation, operational and performance qualification. GAMP5 and 21 CFR Part 11 compliant documentation, deviation management, support for Big Pharma internal audits and authority inspections. For missions requiring dual batch and CSV expertise, we work with our partner Eric Rouane (20+ years pharma CQV).

Solution architecture and systems integration

Design of technical architectures for complex industrial environments: ERP/MES/SCADA integration, unified data platforms, OT/IT governance, industrial network security. Our approach combines multi-vendor technical expertise and understanding of operational constraints in a regulated site.

Frequently asked

Frequently asked — pharma & life sciences

Yes. We have been delivering in GMP environments for over 10 years with documentation compliant with GAMP5, 21 CFR Part 11 and ISA-88. Our FAT/SAT, IQ/OQ deliverables and runbooks have passed Big Pharma internal audits and authority inspections without major non-conformity.

Other sectors

Explore other sectors we serve

Microtechnology & watchmaking

Food & beverage

Fine chemistry

Energy & utilities

OEMs & special machines

Contact

Let's discuss your pharma & life sciences project

Response within 24 working hours. Quote on request, fixed price possible on a clear scope.

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