Production Of Viable Probiotic Cells: Overview And Partner Selection Criteria

Definition of probiotics and classification

Discuss about the Production of Viable Probiotic Cells.

Generally, the world population is expected to be almost more than 10 billion in 2040. Due to changes in the economic growth of the world, there has been a big demand to manufacture adequate feed needed by the livestock. This has raised a big concern, therefore, coming up with technologized mechanisms for manufacturing enough feed for the livestock regardless of the limited resources.

However, the livestock sector has been growing rapidly as compared to the other sectors of agriculture. It accounts for almost 50% of the total value within the field of agriculture. Generally, by increasing the number of the livestock within the economy it means that the number of human being will also increase. Livestock production will be able to support millions of people by providing adequate food and other agricultural related materials (Ruiz-Moyano  et al 2011).Generally, livestock will be able to provide an income for instance in marginalized areas and it will also serve as the key factor which will assist in fighting the issues of poverty

Most of the livestock systems all over the world are gearing towards the improvement of supply of the number of the livestock. This has influenced the formation of the livestock welfares issues that target to manufacture adequate feed for the existence of the livestock.Due to the increased demand of the livestock supply, the livestock welfare has introduced the issue of probiotic (Ruggles 2009).

The primary purpose or objective of this study is to identify the best partner company in the manufacture of probiotics through use of various management tool criteria. I identified the best company in the selection of the animal feeds and explaining the manufacture of the probiotics. The probiotics (the direct fed microbes) are rapidly used nowadays as the common feeds for the livestock. They are the commonly used antibiotics in a field of agriculture that have been used as the substitute of the Antibiotic Growth Promoters (Ruiz-Moyano et al 2011). The main aim to use the probiotics in livestock is to increase the production level and the enhance the issue of growth and development in livestock. It also assists in controlling the entry of the pathogens to the livestock thus providing a better life for the animal to survive in any environment.

The research was limited to the only production of the probiotics and the use of the criteria used to in designing the probiotics. The criteria were considered from the selecting appropriate company that had a good quality for manufacturing probiotics. (Kude?ka,2010).

Total Quality Management (TQM)

This research project is important as it involved ensuring strategies that companies apply in the manufacture of probiotics. The best partner company to be selected is key in the development of quality probiotic products to enhance consumer satisfaction and promote the health of the animals The significance of this research is to curb the above outlined problems regarding manufacture of probiotics in order to prevent pathogenic bacteria in animals and promote their health (Rigby & Bilodeau 2011).

Different researchers have defined the term probiotic as a substance that promotes unknown growth secreted by the ciliate protozoan that helps in growth and development to another ciliate within the body. This gives a description of the microbial which help in intestinal microbial balance within an organism. The microbial are living organisms and thy improve the intestinal balance of the host animal thus enhancing growth. We have a number of microbial used in different companies that have been classified as follows;

1.The bacterial and the non-bacterial probiotics. They include the use of the micro-organisms such as the bacteria (Sanders 2008). The companies use different species of the bacteria to manufacture the probiotics. Some of the species are categorized as the Lactobacillus and the Candida pintolopesii.

2.Use of the spore-forming and the non-spore forming probiotics. Although the non-spore forming probiotics predominates over the spore-forming probiotics, in most of the companies you find that the most used is the spore-forming probiotics. This is because it has good quality and therefore giving adequate feeds for the livestock survival.

3.Use of the Autochthonous probiotics and the Allochthonous probiotics. Some of the companies uses bacteria’s which are absent in the gut of the animals (Sanders 2008).  The commonly used are the allochthonous one with the example of the yeast. The other section of the microorganism used is autochthonous which includes the lactobacillus bacteria.

4.Use of the Multispecies and the single species probiotics used by the companies. The microbial products of the probiotics usually vary from the single production all the way to the multi-production in all the companies. Most companies use the microbial that will provide adequate products such as multispecies while the small company may prefer to use the single species (Sanders 2008).  They can be used in small production and also in large production depending on the choice of each company.

This involves a management approach that deals with success of a company through consumer satisfaction (Ruggles 2009).  The Probiotic company to be selected should be focused on customers as they determine the level of quality and involvement of employees for continual improvement. It basically utilizes strategies, datasets, and good communication in the integration of quality domains in the entire company.

Benchmarking

 The company should be process-centered in order to take supply inputs and change them to outputs that are deliverable to the customers.TQM gather and analyze data to improve decision making accuracy based on facts thus important in this case to select the best probiotic company.

In this project, this management tool will involve a criterion for providing a continuous comparison on the project management practices of the different organization manufacturing probiotics with other rivals (Fotopoulos & Psomas 2009).   Its aimed at improving one’s performance since information obtained through benchmarking will be used in improvement of the processes thus used by probiotic companies in becoming more competitive in the global market.Fig 1.2 Benchmarking organogram

It involves better analysis and evaluation of several critical success factors in order to determine the company that will flourish. Here, benchmarking will be accomplished through surveys, personal contacts and attending company conferences. Thus this strategic planning process is important in identifying the best company that will be efficient in making changes and risk management in manufacture of probiotics (Ruggles 2009).

This management tool evaluates the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This tool will be important in specification of the objectives and outlining the factors favorable for achievement of the set objectives. This will save on cost, time in developing ideas in order to make the decisions on the best partner company involved in manufacture of probiotics.

This involves development of new modification of the available company models. The best partner company for the manufacture of probiotics will be provide the visual chart that consist of elements of the company product value, customers, transportation means and financial resources. (Fotopoulos & Psomas 2009).  This model will also involve how a company will generate revenue streams such as asset sale, leasing and advertising through media. The business Model canvas ought to be printed on the company board in order to identify the best partner (Rigby & Bilodeau 2011).

Partnership relationship management tool involves the existing processes and strategies that a company utilize in directing the operations with partners who make product sales. This approach includes partner portal, consumer computer databases that ensure various companies and partners in management of sales metrics, prices and inventories of the manufacture product (Fotopoulos & Psomas 2009).  Probiotic manufacturing companies should trust on partner companies to make large sales volume on their behalf instead of use of direct selling. This channel strategy includes system retailers which helps the top-level mangers to propel their partner’s sales processes and lower the threat of having company duplicates (Fotopoulos & Psomas 2009).  This tool should be successfully implemented to create harmonious collaboration of manufacturers, vendors and customers thus creating a profitable partnership

SWOT Analysis

This provides a scientific approach vital in creation and management of various startups in order for the company to acquire desired products to be delivered to the customer’s premises. This method can be used by Companies to propel a startup, enable new product development and growth of the probiotics manufacturing process (Fotopoulos & Psomas 2009).   A key component of lean startup methodology is designing a measure feedback. In order to make a good partnership for the project, the selected company need to first figure the problem that requires to be solved and then build a minimum viable product(MVP). The company will then measure actionable metrics and parameters involved in typical fundamental hypothesis about the probiotic product and strategies for manufacturing (Ruggles 2009). This company will be required to turn the ideas and innovation in to manufacturing probiotic product and measure the responses of the customers.

The research considered different criteria used during the manufacture of probiotics in different companies. Some of the companies considered were; The Bio-Cat microbial.

NutraScience Labs, The Terragens Research and the Multikraft probiotics in Australia.

Different criteria were used to measure the percentage of production of the probiotics in the companies mentioned above. The criteria used was to identify how the following measures have been employed by each company so as to come up with the suitable company for the production of the probiotics (Sanders 2008).

Selection criteria for each company

In order to obtain a good research some of the criteria considered in selecting the suitable company for manufacturing of the probiotics were;

1. Checking whether the company participates in the external contracts or the toll manufacturing processes.
2. Screening the scale assigned to each equipment used during the fermentation process.

3.Downstreaming the processing equipment used in each company that is the use of the centrifuges and the dryers used.

1. Locating the experience and the cost incurred. Also, the aspect of the experience on dealing with the probiotics was analyzed within the company selected during the research.
2. Determining the issue of management and the quality system outlined by each company. That is measuring the standards used by the companies in manufacturing of the probiotics.

Most of the companies deal with the large production of the probiotics. The whole process of manufacturing the probiotics is characterized by the use of advanced technology that is employed in the fermentation process and use of efficient machines for drying. Some of the companies have a large number of the laboratory that helps to do research on the probiotics.

Fermentation procedures are used to in either manufacture the microbial products in either large quantity or even in small quantity. The commonly used microbial by the companies mentioned are the enzymes, the amino acids, use of the vitamins, and also use the relevant pharmaceutical products. Different studies reveal that this company uses the research from the labs to design the probiotics. Here the concept of the quality assurance runs all through to each laboratory within the company.

Business Model Canvas

Fermentation can be done in two different ways. It can either be through the continuous fermentation or the batch fermentation.

In the batch fermentation, all the components used are first sterilized and there is mixing of the inoculum in the fermenter and then is kept in optimum temperature to allow the growth of the probiotic. This is common in companies such as The Bio-Cat microbial and The NutraScience Labs. During the fermentation different nutrients are added so as to facilitate the growth of the micro-organisms used. A base medium is used also to establish PH medium needed for fermentation, therefore, helping the function of the microorganism within the fermentation chamber (Turgut & Cakmakci,2009).  After the completion of the fermentation, process cells are recovered from the centrifugal chambers through the filtration method. The main objective in batch fermentation is the issue of coming up with the cellular concentration that will give a high percentage of the probiotics. In most cases, the concertation may tend to have a high viscosity which is compensated by adding the vegetative materials so as to recover the cells and maintaining the appropriate pH thus increased production of the probiotics (Kude?ka,2010).

The Terragens Research and the Multikraft probiotics in Australia use the continuous fermentation whereby the fresh growing materials are incorporated with the culture and the cells of the bacteria and even other substrates which will be occasionally removed so as to facilitate the production of the probiotics. The change of genetic composure is facilitated through the mutation process. This is always through the contamination of the bacteria and the substrate contained in the fermentation chamber.

This is commonly used after the fermentation process. The yeast and the bacteria cells are dried thus enhancing the transportation process. The probiotics are dried through the use of the freeze or the spray drying mechanism. The issue of keeping the viability of cells is crucial when drying so as to ensure that there is better probiotic production within the company (Kude?ka,2010).

Results and findings

(Fig 1.) Analysis of the rate of the fermentation process in the companies.

Company	% rate on use of fermentation process
Bio-Cat Microbial	47
NutraScience Lab	23
The Terragens Research	18
Multikraft Probiotics	12

The Bio-Cat microbials company uses the highest fermentation criteria as compared to the other companies. This illustrates that the probiotic formation in the company is at large rate.

Tool and contract manufacturing are two relatively same kinds of a company supply chain management. These manufacturing options have different and transparent characteristics (Rigby & Bilodeau 2011). In this case, they benefit the probiotic manufacturing companies and customers in various ways. They are able to provide target consumers with valuable strategies to save time and capital. They also save on incurred costs of the company based on the probiotic product line development.

Partnership Relationship Management Tool

Tool manufacturing involves the process where one company offers raw materials to another company that then continues to provide the remaining manufacturing services. Therefore, as a toll manufacturer, Bio-Cat microbial company can provide its potential consumers with a facility and manufacturing equipment to efficiently process the probiotic drug products (Turgut & Cakmakci,2009).  Due to this approach, the prospective company has a manufacturing variable cost without having a financial investment in other available equipment’s and facilities. This significantly decreases the time required for getting the product to the market thus customers are able to supply the needed raw materials and equipment’s for production of probiotics drug to Bio-Cat Microbials.In external contract, the manufacturer has the responsibility to designing the probiotic drug product according to specifications that meet the delivery time requirement. This criterion will enable good selection of a company that creates a supply chain vendor for a branded and custom-made product.

The small fermenter that is typically utilized for the scale-up of processes as from the initial flask stage for the research study carried out on implications of key variables is one of the significant tool present in the antibiotic companies for the development of fermentation process. The equipment’s available in a particular company should be properly labeled, efficient and effective, well calibrated to offer precision and accuracy of the entire probiotic manufacturing process (Charalampopoulos & Rastall 2009).  Through the use of this criteria, the company to be selected should meet the goals of optimum versatility and lower handling and maintenance equipment’s requirements. The equipment should provide superior performance in the fermentation process for example specifically in Bio-cat microbial company and Multikraft microbial (Rigby & Bilodeau 2011). The company should be able to have a large scale small fermenters that primarily include a stationary type and battery jar or portable type. Both have various distinct benefits in fermentation and manufacturing probiotic process. They save the need for human labor saving on production costs incurred and increase the precision and safety of probiotic drugs.

This process involves the purification of biosynthetic products mainly pharmaceutical drug formulation and manufactures The equipment’s such as centrifuges make it essential to manufacture vaccines, antibodies, drugs such as probiotics at distinct scales of operation. These analytical instruments are efficient in settling and drying of probiotics components at different stages. The centrifuges are important in the application of centrifugal forces to separate drug particles from the overall solution according to the required sizes, shapes viscosity and density ratio. Denser components go away from the existence of the centrifuge. It should have micro and high-speed centrifuges. Thus the company should have proper centrifuge equipment to ensure elimination of impurities to assure the safety of the probiotic customers (Charalampopoulos & Rastall,2009).

The best company to be selected should have vacuum dryers that are systematically equipped with cylindrical shells with flattened plates on the edges promoting limitation of formation of wetted probiotic powders. It is evident that turbulent flow of vacuum dryers or agitators enables large particle important for coating and granulating pharmaceutical products. Companies such as Bio-cat microbial should be composed of dryer instruments involved in the down streaming process of the manufacture of probiotics. The types of equipment should be efficient and in good conditions in order for a company to be selected as the best.

In various research activities, cost-effectiveness was estimated based on the treatment of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea. Sensitivity analysis indicates that results from treatment using oral probiotics cause directed costs of the drug per each affected individual. Results indicate that those people treated with oral probiotics had a decreased overall cost as compared with the usual care. Use of oral probiotics result in a lower risk and cost saving is greater, in this case, the company that is offering affordable prices in proportion to quality products should be selected. It should use moderate prices for the probiotics in order for the patients to choose them over other competitors in the market (Rigby & Bilodeau 2011). This would increase its sales volume and profitability which in turn would lead to suitable implications in the production cost incurred.

Location of accompanying is also an important criterion in selecting the best company. A company should be located in a region that has high availability of raw materials for the manufacture of probiotic drugs. The selected company location should have enough supply of Water resources, human labor resources, secure environment, and in a wide customer base (Turgut & Cakmakci,2009).  The area should be efficient in transporting and delivering probiotics drugs. A suitable location consisting of minimal competitors or rivals involving companies dealing with a similar product in the market should contribute to a good criterion for selecting the best company. Therefore, this should make the developed decision analytic model be simpler in selecting the best company.

Pharmaceutical quality systems usually have implications on every American and other companies in the world for example in Australia. It basically regulates the pharmaceuticals in a careful manner Thus the vital regulatory standard that exists regarding propelling pharmaceutical quality I the current good manufacturing practice (Ruggles 2009).  Customers have a high anticipation that each batch of drugs they consume meets the desired quality standards in order for them to efficient and prevent harm. Over the years FDA  made clear on the existing regulatory actions that affect all the companies including Bio-Cat, Nutra science lab, Murtikraft probiotics and Terragens research.

Camp provides for systems that enable effective , monitoring, evaluation, analysis and monitoring of existing processes. For example, if Bio-cat microbial adhere to the regulations set aside, it would ensure proper quality, strength, and purity of probiotics products needing the manufacturers of probiotics to efficiently control its manufacturing activities. In order to select the best company, the t would meet all the set standards use of cGMP as the main criterion is significant. The company where the manufacturers are implementing  (Ruggles 2009). 

Other comprehensive cGMPs, modern quality systems and other risk management approaches that exceed the minimum requirements and standards of the cGMP should be considered and eventually selected.

This is because cGMP is very important in detecting if a probiotic is safe for consumption by proper testing of the batch sample usually 100 tablets. It is good that probiotics to be manufactured under conducive environment and practices as outlined by cGMP regulations (Turgut & Cakmakci, 2009). These criteria are boosted by a company having to train and employ qualified personnel to help assure the safety and efficacy of probiotic products. This will build the confidence of consumers in the companies’ reliable products, creating a brand image of good will, increase sales column and profitability and eventually contribute to the overall success of the company(Ruggles 2009).

Conclusion

The company that meets most of the best standards as compared to the rival company should be selected as the best one. In this case Bio-Cat Microbial Company should be proposed and selected as the best as it meets most of the criteria process and strategies. The selected company should be able to meet customer requirements and improving their strategic satisfaction. This is important as it serves to offer maximum benefits to the entire management of the company, shareholders, employees, customers and improves the health of animals   and economy of the people of different countries including Australian citizens.

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