Voices of Bachem: Scaling Up for Success

An Inside Look from Manufacturing Leaders in Switzerland and the USAThe demand for peptide ingredients for medicines is growing significantly. As a leading supplier in this field, Bachem is scaling up its production. This growth isn’t just about new buildings and equipment —it’s about navigating a more complex manufacturing environment and maintaining excellence.Two experienced manufacturing leaders, Sebastian Hartmann (VP of Manufacturing at Bachem Bubendorf, Switzerland) and Upinder Singh (VP of Production at Bachem San Diego, USA), share their insights on how Bachem is scaling its operations while staying true to its core competencies. How has Bachem’s recent growth affected the Manufacturing division, particularly with regard to the transition to large-scale production?Sebastian: In the last two years, our division has experienced substantial changes. We’ve grown our team from 200 to 450 employees and have been operating at near-full capacity. This expansion comes with its share of challenges, such as commissioning complex systems and introducing new shift schedules to optimize output. This transformation is possible thanks to an incredible amount of teamwork we’ve seen across the board, for instance between production and engineering teams.Upinder: At Bachem Vista in the USA, we specialize in manufacturing at scales between 25 kg and 250 kg, and we support clinical and early commercial customers. Additionally, Vista offers supplementary GMP manufacturing capacity to other Bachem sites, allowing for flexibility and ensuring business continuity across our global network.Can you share some notable changes or improvements in our manufacturing processes to accommodate this growth?Sebastian: To keep up with growing demand, we’ve adopted 16/7 or even 24/7 shift systems to maximize output. We’ve also fine-tuned our process approach to increase both efficiency and profitability. Collaboration across different divisions is a big part of this effort, as we work together to alleviate production bottlenecks, reduce downtime, and integrate new technologies into our processes.Upinder: Safety, quality, and cross-functional communication are key pillars of our growth strategy. We’ve invested in capex, enhanced our daily production huddles, adopted lean workplace principles for better workplace organization, and conducted thorough assessments of our manufacturing suites and chemical storage. These changes streamline our process flow and ensure we’re operating efficiently, even at larger scales. What measures have been taken to ensure that employees are prepared and supported for the expansion of our activities into large-scale production?Sebastian: With an increased pace of work, we need to make decisions quickly.. To support this, we’ve developed specialized training courses for shift supervisors, preparing them for high-pressure situations. Close cooperation between our teams and central functions has been key to maintaining smooth operations during this period of expansion.Upinder: In San Diego, we place a strong emphasis on ongoing training to ensure our team is ready for the transition to large-scale production. This includes routine cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) training, as well as education in Value Stream Mapping, lean manufacturing, and operational excellence tools like Minitab and visual management. These initiatives help our team stay agile and effective as we scale up.Given the increased demand for our services, how do we continue to ensure quality standards when scaling up production?Sebastian: Quality is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re committed to maintaining high standards as we grow. We’ve improved our employee training programs to reduce avoidable errors, and we hold daily floor meetings to discuss quality metrics and address any issues. Our division also participates in cross-divisional improvement initiatives to ensure that quality remains consistent throughout the entire production process.Upinder: Scaling up production doesn’t mean compromising on quality. We rely on standardized processes and equipment to maintain consistency as we increase output. Regular audits by both external and internal help us identify areas for improvement and ensure continuous enhancement of our quality standards. Driving Excellence in Peptide API ManufacturingAs Bachem continues to scale, both Sebastian Hartmann and Upinder Singh emphasize a clear, shared vision: growth without compromise. By investing in innovative processes, comprehensive training, and a culture of collaboration, Bachem ensures that quality, safety, and efficiency remain at the forefront of its operations. As demand for peptide APIs rises, the company’s commitment to operational excellence, both in Switzerland and the USA, positions it to meet the challenges of large-scale manufacturing while staying true to its core values of quality and innovation.Scaling up isn’t just about producing more—it’s about using simple, clear processes to improve efficiency, streamline efforts, and consistently focus on excellence.Subscribe to our general newslettervar gform;gform||(document.addEventListener("gform_main_scripts_loaded",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,initializeOnLoaded:function(o){gform.domLoaded&&gform.scriptsLoaded?o():!gform.domLoaded&&gform.scriptsLoaded?window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",o):document.addEventListener("gform_main_scripts_loaded",o)},hooks:{action:{},filter:{}},addAction:function(o,n,r,t){gform.addHook("action",o,n,r,t)},addFilter:function(o,n,r,t){gform.addHook("filter",o,n,r,t)},doAction:function(o){gform.doHook("action",o,arguments)},applyFilters:function(o){return gform.doHook("filter",o,arguments)},removeAction:function(o,n){gform.removeHook("action",o,n)},removeFilter:function(o,n,r){gform.removeHook("filter",o,n,r)},addHook:function(o,n,r,t,i){null==gform.hooks[o][n]&&(gform.hooks[o][n]=[]);var e=gform.hooks[o][n];null==i&&(i=n+"_"+e.length),gform.hooks[o][n].push({tag:i,callable:r,priority:t=null==t?10:t})},doHook:function(n,o,r){var t;if(r=Array.prototype.slice.call(r,1),null!=gform.hooks[n][o]&&((o=gform.hooks[n][o]).sort(function(o,n){return o.priority-n.priority}),o.forEach(function(o){"function"!=typeof(t=o.callable)&&(t=window[t]),"action"==n?t.apply(null,r):r[0]=t.apply(null,r)})),"filter"==n)return r[0]},removeHook:function(o,n,t,i){var r;null!=gform.hooks[o][n]&&(r=(r=gform.hooks[o][n]).filter(function(o,n,r){return!!(null!=i&&i!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][n]=r)}}); 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