This is worth a specific discussion because automation can be the saving grace or the bane of your campaign. Experience is key. Automating a process or any unit operation can improve the quality, reduce product cost, and increase production throughput, but it must be documented and validated. Process controls in automated operations can be sophisticated and require a higher degree of engineering talent that all CMOs may not have. Inquire about the CMO’s automation experience for similar projects. This may be an instance when you should ask to speak with one of the CMO’s former clients who actually experienced the automation solution.
