The validation life cycle

The Validation Life Cycle is an implementation mechanism which can assist pharmaceutical (and other types of medical product) manufacturers in the organization and execution of validation activities. A considerable body of work exists which identifies how to validate processes of various type and description. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of information on how to organize these individual validation activities into a cohesive whole. This paper describes a suggested means for achieving an organization's validation goals in a rational and effective fashion. To best understand the advantages of a life cycle for validation, a recap of the history of validation in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry is useful.