Vifor Pharma Wins 2018 Pharma 4.0 Award for Implementation of Augmented Reality System

Zurich (ots/PRNewswire) -

Vifor Pharma Group today announced that the company and partner
Goodly Innovations were awarded the 2018 Pharma 4.0 Award for the
innovation of the year in manufacturing execution systems in the
pharma industry.

Presented on 24 September in Berlin, the purpose of the Pharma 4.0
Award is to recognise outstanding implementation in manufacturing
execution systems innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.

Vifor Pharma was the first company to pilot a dynamic team-based
augmented reality system (Goodly Innovations' OptiworX) in a pilot
project at its site in St. Gallen, Switzerland, in 2017. Augmented
reality uses optical devices to create a "mixed reality" (i.e. real
and virtual) 3D holographic information, like superimposed text and
graphics over the real environment.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging processes are complex.
Floor operators must run through many detailed checklists of
changeover or line clearance tasks while ensuring that no errors
occur. These processes, often managed using printed manuals and
checklists, are slow and prone to errors. Augmented reality turns any
task list - no matter how complex - into a dynamic multi user
workflow that adapts continuously to real-life operations as each
task is completed, such as when the number of operators changes. The
application also gives users only the instructions they need at each
step in the process. Operators are thus able to do their jobs better
and faster, and with much more flexibility and accuracy, even when
processes become more complex.

"Applying augmented reality in our operations allowed us to
improve the changeover process and increase productivity by up to 50%
at our packaging plant," said Dr. Benno Bischof, Head of Product
Group, Technical Operations, in St. Gallen. "We have clearly
demonstrated the potential of augmented reality by using it to create
a dynamic teamwork system, unprecedented in our industry. -. This is
the kind of innovative technology that we strive to use to improve
our operations."

"We set out to reduce the format change time by 30%, which at the
time of our first prototype seemed like a bold objective. Now that we
have real-life data from multiple installations, we are blown away by
the results. Improving overall equipment effectiveness by 15
percentage points exceeded our expectations. It was also amazing to
see error rates drop to virtually zero or on-boarding times become
vastly accelerated," said Robert Hoffmeister, CEO of Goodly
Innovations. "We are very grateful for the trust and constructive
feedback we got from the supportive teams at Vifor Pharma during this
important early phase. Now we are just as excited to see the interest
in OptiworX grow so rapidly in the industry."

The 2018 Pharma 4.0 Award took place as part of this year's Pharma
TRACKTS! and Pharma MES Berlin conferences.

Vifor Pharma Group is a global pharmaceuticals company. It aims to
become the global leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and
cardio-renal therapies. The company is the partner of choice for
specialty pharmaceuticals and innovative patient-focused solutions.
Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the world with
severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier lives. The company
develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for
precision patient care. Vifor Pharma Group holds a leading position
in all its core business activities and consists of the following
companies: Vifor Pharma; Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma, a
joint company with Fresenius Medical Care; Relypsa; and OM Pharma.
Vifor Pharma Group is headquartered in Switzerland, and listed on the
Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange, VIFN, ISIN: CH0364749348).
For more information, please visit: http://www.viforpharma.com .

Goodly Innovations is a leader in augmented reality solutions for
regulated industries. For more information, please visit
http://www.goodly-innovations.com .

ots Originaltext: Vifor Pharma
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Media Relations Vifor Pharma: Heide Hauer
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel.: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Media Relations Goodly Innovations: Robert Hoffmeister
CEO
Tel.: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]