Revolutionizing drug inspection and training with eye tracking

Visual inspections are critical for the pharmaceutical industry. Daiichi Sankyo Propharma, recognizing the importance of this procedure, integrated eye tracking into its Digital Transformation (DX) strategy, drastically cutting down training time. 

Race to the top

The pharmaceutical landscape is undergoing a quiet transformation. As government policies lean towards the proliferation of generic drugs, many companies are venturing into the sector. Consequently, the focus has shifted from solid preparations to injectable drugs.

Daiichi Sankyo Propharma is at the forefront of this shift, significantly ramping up its production of injectable drugs. However, ensuring the quality of these drugs requires a human touch - visual inspection. Meeting the stringent company standards and becoming a certified visual inspector can sometimes take up to a year in a prolonged and arduous training process. As the production volume rises, the urgency to shorten the training period becomes ever more pressing.

Innovation through eye tracking

The team at Daiichi Sankyo Propharma had been exploring DX tools to address this challenge. When Tobii introduced their eye tracking solution, they saw an opportunity to optimize their training for maximum efficiency.

By asking skilled and novice inspectors to wear the eye tracking glasses while completing their work tasks, it became possible to see the differences in technique that would have otherwise remained elusive. By analyzing gaze patterns, Daiichi Sankyo Propharma were able to understand the specific expertise of seasoned inspectors through detailed and clear visualizations.

Game changing results

One of the significant challenges was the visual inspection of 'lyophilized preparations.' Some inspection elements were so intricate that obtaining qualifications became a bottleneck in the training process. Eye tracking identified the cause: intense eye movements during complex inspections. By realigning inspection items, the company eased the visual strain, resulting in a higher qualification rate.

This realignment, combined with post-eye tracking interviews, reduced the training period for inspectors by half - from a year to just six months. The seasoned inspectors, who also served as trainers, gained more confidence in their methods, further boosting training efficiency.

The road ahead

Daiichi Sankyo Propharma's vision doesn't stop here. They aim to blend automated inspection machinery with human visual inspection to further speed up the process. Eye tracking will play a pivotal role in pinpointing areas that machines might miss. Moreover, they intend to leverage eye tracking to periodically evaluate workers' proficiency.

Other companies within the group have taken note of these remarkable outcomes, and plans are now in motion to roll out eye tracking across affiliated companies.

Voices from the ground 

Takahisa Mogaki from Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. remarks,
"Tobii's eye tracking furnished us with data that was previously hard to articulate. This has empowered us to drive changes with conviction, and more importantly, it has halved our training duration." 

Mitsuru Koike, Director at Daiichi Sankyo Propharma Co., Ltd., adds,
"Post eye tracking interviews, especially those conducted while watching the recorded gaze data, have been invaluable. These sessions often illuminate the vast reservoir of knowledge the experienced inspectors hold, much of which they might take for granted." 

By embracing eye tracking technology, Daiichi Sankyo Propharma has not only improved its inspection processes but also set a new training standard for the pharmaceutical industry.