Phone Number
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Hours of Operation
info@capplustech.com
Email Address
Request A Quote

The Guide to Quality Control for Tablet Manufacturing

Ensure Better Product Quality and Enhanced Consumer Safety 

Tablet pharmaceuticals are among the most manufactured in the industry. Compared to softgels, capsules, and gummies, they are the most durable and solid in their construction and are commonly used to house many life-saving medications that people rely on each day. 

For your business to continue offering excellent tablet products to consumers, having an airtight quality control process is not just a luxury – it’s essential. Today, we are going to review some key quality control principles for pharmaceutical tablets that you should consider incorporating into your manufacturing process. 

Why Invest in Quality Control? 

Consumer Safety 

The first and most obvious reason to invest in quality control is the safety of the consumers that rely on your products to improve their lives. Tablets that are contaminated, expired, or have weak structural integrity to not contribute to a safe and enjoyable experience. 

Better Product Quality 

Well-manufactured tablets are durable and able to withstand much of the wear and tear that is involved in shipping these products from your facility to store shelves. This results in far less product loss and an overall improved product quality. 

Boost Your Reputation 

Contract manufacturers that adopt excellent quality control processes can increase their reputation among ideal customers and generate more business development opportunities. If a client trusts your ability to deliver an incredible product, they will want to start or continue their partnership with you. 

Key Quality Control Principles for Tablet Manufacturing 

Start with Professional-Grade Production Equipment

A professional-grade tablet press will ensure greater product consistency and quality through recurring daily manufacturing processes. This reduces the chances of quality control issues arising and also can help you scale your production scope farther than possible with other solutions. 

Source High-Quality Ingredients

Poor ingredient quality is often a contributing factor to product contamination. Source ingredients from reputable suppliers that specialize in the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that you are receiving the cleanest materials possible. 

Screen Products for Heavy Metals 

Heavy metals are one of the most prevalent threats in contaminated pharmaceutical tablets.  Often they enter a product through three primary means: 

  • Deliberately added to the tablet mixture
  • Residue from production machinery 
  • Impure ingredients sourced for production 

Because these metals are often not visible to the human eye, a pharmaceutical-grade metal detector is needed. Though each brand of metal detector will function somewhat differently, the general design is the same: The machine will separate contaminated tablets from ones that are not compromised. 

If you want to simplify your operations, you can also use a machine that provides both metal detection and checkweighing. Streamline your operations by completing two quality control operations at once! 

Test Tap Density 

Tap density testing is a practice commonly used in tablet quality control. How quickly and completely a powder compacts with a standard tapping force can be used to assess how effectively the powder holds together. This can aid in assessing the structural integrity of a powder-based tablet product. 

Test Product Hardness 

Conversely, product hardness is used to measure the product’s resistance to external forces that could compromise its structural integrity. A hardness testing machine can be used to measure the breaking strength of the tablet material to gauge how durable it is against physical outside pressure. 

Sort Units by Thickness 

Despite our best efforts, some individual tablets are either too thick or not thick enough for distribution and sale. To ensure that your product’s sizes remain consistent, filter them through a thickness sorter. This machine will automatically sort out any units that are not properly sized to your specifications – ensuring greater consistency for your manufacturing operations. 

Use an Advanced Roller Machine for Visual Inspection 

Beyond testing the inherent properties of the tablet, a visual eye test is also essential to identify any units that might be chipped, miscolored, or otherwise incomplete. Using an advanced roller inspection machine, you can easily review individual units and identify any that are not suitable for distribution and sale. 

Streamline Tablet Manufacturing Quality Control Today 

At CapPlus, we are committed to equipping your pharmaceutical production businesses with the industry’s leading tablet manufacturing solutions. Whether you are looking for a single component for your facility or an entire new quality control suite, our team of experts can help connect you with the right machinery and tools for your needs. 

To learn more about how we can assist you scale your tablet manufacturing operations, contact us today to speak with someone from our team.