[Paradigm Shift by Utilization of Linear Transport Technology in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing]

In recent years, factory operations performed using linear transport technology have become a hot topic of discussion, particularly in countries in the European Union. It is widely believed that the use of this approach will cause a paradigm shift in production technology. This would therefore be a good time to promote the use of linear transport techniques in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and other products in Japan and thus push Japan toward becoming a global production technology powerhouse. In this work, we review state-of-the-art technological information from manufacturers that provide linear systems for use in production and from manufacturers that propose and install these technologies in production plants. We then discuss the application of these systems and technologies to production plants, including a look at the manufacturing companies that operate such plants.