Specialized Article
AIR CALIBRATION AND QUALIFICATION FOR GSK
How do we assist GSK with air calibration and qualification [...]
We interviewed Javier Mateo, Head of Air Calibrations and Qualifications at GSK Aranda.
How do we assist GSK with air calibration and qualification processes?
“The pharmaceutical industry must meet very critical and strict requirements, especially when it comes to air calibration and qualification and instrument measurement.” – Javier Mateo, Head of Calibrations and Air Qualification at GSK (Aranda).
GlaxoSmithKline, known worldwide as GSK, is a British multinational pharmaceutical company guided by science and responsible innovation, with a clear purpose: to provide medicines to millions of people around the world by combining science, technology, and talent to stay one step ahead of disease.
We are fortunate to have the opportunity to interview Javier Mateo, Head of Air Calibrations and Qualifications at the GSK plant in Aranda. This is one of the company’s strategic plants, where, in addition to innovative and established respiratory medications, it also produces cancer drugs and medications for patients living with HIV, among others. With 18 years of experience at the plant, Javier tells us about his day-to-day work at the company and how our solution makes his job much easier.
AS A GSK EMPLOYEE, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY?
I’ve been working at the company for almost 20 years, and let’s just say that GSK is in our blood. Our work is 100% focused on people’s health—we make medicines. The patient is at the forefront of the supply chain; we always put their needs first. For us, that’s the top priority, along with the quality and safety of our processes.
We make medicines, and those medicines could be taken by anyone close to you—your mother, your father, your grandparents, and so on. So you have to look out for all of them. It’s a really wonderful job, and you have to enjoy your work—that’s essential. Whether it’s my job in air calibration and qualification—which, for me, is the most important thing—or any other job, the important thing is that you feel comfortable in your work.
HOW DID THE PARTNERSHIP WITH GRUPO álava COME ABOUT?
The pharmaceutical industry must meet very critical and strict requirements. When choosing products and brands, we tend to select the best ones on the market—those that provide optimal results for our processes.
Specifically, at Grupo Álava, I work with Vaisala. I believe it’s probably the best product for measuring humidity and temperature. It offers us excellent reliability and accuracy.
In the pharmaceutical industry, the entire issue of instrument calibration and measurement is critical. We have ambient probes throughout the factory—about 200 of them—that monitor all the rooms. In all processes, the machines also control and monitor temperature and humidity, and I can tell you that 99% of them are from Vaisala.
How has GRUPO álava’s solution helped you?
It has really helped me in terms of the reliability of that measurement, and in avoiding all the problems that would have arisen if I hadn’t had equipment from such a top-tier brand, with exceptional precision and reliability .
I also think the technical support you have behind you is extremely important. It’s good not to have to deal with them, because that means everything is going well, but if you ever need to call them, they should be there right away to help you. I think everyone who’s worked with you knows that. We’ve been working together for many years now.
DOING OUR PART
At Grupo Álava, we are proud to be able to help companies as globally renowned as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). It brings us great joy to be part of something as significant as improving people’s quality of life. It’s a pleasure to work with you!
