Making it in Manufacturing

95% of our viewers aren't subscribed. If you're watching and not yet subscribed, please subscribe to the channel so you don't miss future episodes.This week on Making It In Manufacturing, Thomas McMann sat down with Chris Leman (UK Chair), Trina Ives (NE Chair), and Zam Thahir (EAC Chair), the UK leadership of ISPE UK , recorded at AstraZeneca's site in Macclesfield during the first ISPE UK Emerging Leaders Conference. In this episode, the team covers:- What ISPE is and why life sciences professionals beyond engineering should get involved- How each leader first got involved with ISPE and progressed through the regional committees- The 2024 annual event in Manchester, the new industry awards and the awards dinner - What to expect at your first ISPE event and why the community feels so welcoming - The 2026 annual event in Newcastle, the Leadership Summit at GSK and plans to expand across the UK If you work anywhere in life sciences and have wondered how to build a network that opens doors across the industry, this conversation is a clear and honest look at what membership can offer. Watch the full episode to hear how Chris, Trina and Zam are investing in the people who will shape UK pharma next.Follow ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalentSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ngInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575Website: https://arto-talent.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artotalentChris LemanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisleman/Trina IvesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinaives/Zam Shabeer ThahirLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zam-shabeer-thahir-0a18a74b/Thomas McMann (Host)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-mcmann-05540a10b/Timestamps:00:14 Introductions from Chris, Trina and Zam01:08 The March board handover and the first few months as chair02:01 Turnout at the Emerging Leaders Conference and shout out to Chalisa03:21 The first Emerging Leaders Conference and getting 62 students involved04:00 What ISPE is and the scale of the global membership05:32 You don't have to be an engineer to join ISPE06:07 How Chris first got involved through the North West committee08:38 Trina's journey from marketing executive to Vice Chair10:34 Zam's journey from a 2016 site tour to chair12:21 Growing emerging leaders events and the Growth Fund initiative14:29 Favourite memories and the 2024 annual event in Manchester16:53 Trina on the member of the year award and the North East community17:37 What to expect at your first ISPE event19:03 Zam on site tours and the social side of ISPE21:42 A good first step for anyone wanting to get involved22:49 The 2026 Newcastle annual event and the Leadership Summit at GSK25:31 Expanding ISPE across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland27:13 The Bridge to Innovation theme, EduHub and the pre-conference social28:44 Where to find out more and the value of the ISPE UK LinkedIn page29:51 Closing thoughts#MakingItInManufacturing #ARTOTalent #ISPE #Pharma #PharmaceuticalEngineering #LifeSciences #Manufacturing #EmergingLeaders #PharmaCareers #Networking

This week on Making It In Manufacturing, Thomas McMann sat down with Thomas Emerik Rasmussen, a project and operations leader specialising in lean manufacturing and operational excellence, with over 15 years at Novo Nordisk spanning nine different roles across Denmark, Italy and the United States, building and leading large CapEx expansion projects before moving into consulting to help companies transform their quality operations.In this episode, Thomas covers:How an unconventional start as a management consultant shaped a career built on teams, mission and visible purposeWhy the API expansion in Clayton, North Carolina, the biggest pharma investment in the world when it broke ground in 2015, became a career-defining projectWhat made the 2.9 billion QC facility unique, and why stakeholder management across five different cultures proved harder than the construction itselfHow the design one, build many model cuts years off design, construction and regulatory timelines, with Fujifilm Biotechnologies cited as another adopter Where AI, digital twins and modular design are taking facility design next, drawing on examples shared by Roche at the ISPE conferenceIf you work in pharmaceutical manufacturing, operational excellence or facility design, this conversation offers a grounded look at how one of the industry's most successful scale-up stories was actually built, and where it goes from here. Worth your time from start to finish.Follow ARTOLinkedIn:   / artotalent  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZO...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t...Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Website: https://arto-talent.com/Youtube:    / @artotalent  LinkedIn:Thomas Emerik Rasmussen  / thomas-emerik-rasmussen-82b2981  Thomas McMann  / thomas-mcmann-05540a10b  Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:21 Welcome to the podcast01:34 Getting into engineering and lean manufacturing03:31 Family, mentors and the draw to life sciences04:50 Starting out as a management consultant06:05 Advising medtech companies as a fresh graduate07:08 Joining Novo Nordisk and an early promotion09:10 Staying engaged across nine different roles11:13 The proudest project: API expansion in Clayton, North Carolina12:27 Relocating the family to the United States13:17 The secret behind Novo Nordisk's growth15:42 Scaling the business and optimising existing lines16:04 Underestimating volumes and quadrupling API capacity17:20 Separating operations from the CapEx organisation19:51 The 2.9 billion QC facility and why it was unique22:37 Innovation, automation and material handling24:32 Project status and timeline to completion25:21 The design one, build many model explained27:10 The major benefits of modular design29:13 Why more companies are adopting modular thinking31:02 Keeping innovation alive within a standardised approach32:37 How lean and operational excellence enable rapid expansion34:03 Methodologies: value stream mapping35:11 A wind turbine case study and a 25% lead time reduction37:17 The lean mindset built into the API expansion39:47 The biggest opportunities for innovation in facility design41:18 Digital twins, AI and the future of facility flow43:57 The risks around AI in design and regulation44:57 Takeaways from the ISPE conference in the UK45:27 Key lessons from scaling operations48:36 The one thing he would have done differently51:14 Closing thoughts#MakingItInManufacturing #ARTOTalent #Pharma #PharmaceuticalManufacturing #LifeSciences #OperationalExcellence #LeanManufacturing #QualityControl #FacilityDesign #NovoNordisk #CapEx #ModularDesign

95% of our viewers aren't subscribed. If you're watching and not yet subscribed, please subscribe to the channel so you don't miss future episodes.What does it actually take to deliver a pharmaceutical facility project without it going off the rails? This week, Thomas McMann sat down with someone who has spent over 30 years doing exactly that, from both sides of the table.This week on Making It In Manufacturing, Thomas McMann sat down with Bruce Klopfenstein, Project Manager at GSK, with over 30 years of experience spanning project management, engineering, validation, EPC consulting, and client-side leadership across companies including GSK, Jacobs, JohnsonAndJohnson, Fujifilm and IBM.In this episode, Bruce covers:- Why getting ACV engaged at the very start of a project changes everything, and why the industry has been slow to do it. - Who is actually responsible when a pharmaceutical project goes over budget, and why change control is almost always at the root of it.- The $100,000 mistake that came down to a missing piece of paper, and the engineer who had to fly to Europe during Covid to fix it. - How GSK is leading a major sustainability push through its low-carbon inhaler propellant project in France, and why 49% of their total annual emissions trace back to a single product type.- Why AI adoption in pharmaceutical validation is no longer optional, and how companies like GSK and Eli Lilly are already using it inside the firewall, with Bruce's take on ValKit AI and what large language models can do for protocol generation at scale. This is a genuinely experienced perspective on what it takes to manage complex pharmaceutical projects, and what the industry needs to do differently. Worth your time whether you are on the EPC side, the client side, or deep in the validation world.Follow ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalentSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ngInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575Website: https://arto-talent.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artotalentLinkedInBruce KlopfensteinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruceklopfenstein/Thomas McMannLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-mcmann-05540a10b/Timestamps:0:00 Introduction1:40 Bruce's ISP talk: early ACV engagement from Basis of Design through Detailed Design3:13 Bruce's career journey: IBM, PricewaterhouseCoopers, gaming industry, J&J, and life science8:09 Finding the most enjoyable moments: it is about the team and the situation, not just the job13:13 Engineering complexity of the 152A propellant transition and where the project currently stands16:33 The CO2 comparison between pharma and automotive: why the headline is misleading19:54 Who is responsible when a project goes over budget? EPC vs client-side accountability23:08 The biggest differences between working on the EPC side vs the client side25:20 Why relationships are the foundation of every successful project30:10 EPC stress vs owner stress: where the real pressure sits36:18 Why pharma struggles to standardise the way oil and gas has40:04 Change control in practice: what it actually requires43:07 Equipment lead times and Covid-era supply chain pressure on the critical path45:44 AI in pharmaceutical validation: where the industry is today46:26 ValKit AI and Hugh Devine: using LLMs to generate validation protocols47:18 The FDA's first AI warning letter and what it means for human oversight53:31 How to think about AI like a smart intern: natural language, not programming55:38 Why companies that are not adopting AI now will fall behind56:00 Closing thoughts and sign-off#MakingItInManufacturing #ARTOTalent #ProjectManagement #Validation #LifeSciences #Biotech #AIInPharma #Commissioning #GMP #DrugManufacturing #Sustainability #GSK #EPC

What does it take to transform a biologics manufacturing business into a global CDMO leader while keeping culture, transparency and patient impact at the centre of every decision?This week on Making It In Manufacturing, Thomas McMann sat down with Lars Petersen, CEO of Fujifilm Biotechnologies, with more than 30 years of experience spanning biologics manufacturing, engineering, operations leadership, global site leadership and biotech innovation across Novo Nordisk, Genentech, Roche and Biogen.In this episode, Lars covers:• Why “Partners for Life” became the foundation of Fujifilm Biotechnologies’ long-term customer strategy and how transparency reshaped CDMO partnerships• How personal loss, engineering curiosity and early leadership experiences at Novo Nordisk shaped Lars’ approach to people, manufacturing and patient impact• Lessons from the California biotech ecosystem at Genentech and Roche, including how culture and scientific purpose influenced leadership philosophy• How the KojoX modular manufacturing platform is helping reduce engineering timelines, improve scalability and rethink biologics facility design• Why AI will transform pharmaceutical manufacturing and how Fujifilm Biotechnologies is preparing the next evolution of biologics productionLars shares an honest perspective on leadership, scaling culture globally, operational excellence and the future of biologics manufacturing. For anyone working across biotech, pharma manufacturing, CDMOs or advanced therapies, this conversation offers a rare look into the mindset behind one of the industry’s fastest-growing organisations.Follow ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalentSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ngInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575Website: https://arto-talent.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artotalentLars PetersenLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lars-petersen-5134362/Thomas McMannLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-mcmann-05540a10b/Timestamps:02:14 Introduction to Lars Petersen and Fujifilm Biotechnologies03:09 The meaning behind “Partners for Life”06:35 Growth of Fujifilm and the secrets behind its success07:26 How CDMOs are becoming strategic partners for pharma08:41 Lars' journey into pharmaceuticals and personal motivation10:47 Did Lars always want to become a CEO?12:12 Engineering mindset vs. people leadership13:55 Advantages of a technical background as a CEO16:27 Lessons from 16 years at Novo Nordisk19:15 Leaving comfort zones: moving to China and the United States21:33 California, Genentech, and biotech culture24:39 Lessons from Genentech and Roche27:13 Leading the Biogen site acquisition by Fujifilm32:03 Winning the first customer and validating the vision34:11 The vision to become the “TSMC of biotech”36:19 KojoX: Fujifilm's modular manufacturing platform41:43 Defining a People-First culture45:57 Maintaining culture while scaling globally48:37 Self-awareness and leadership development53:39 AI in biomanufacturing and the future of KojoX55:10 What still motivates Lars after 30+ years in biotech56:18 David Bowie, legacy, and final reflections56:39 Closing remarks#MakingItInManufacturing #ARTOTalent #Biotech #PharmaceuticalManufacturing #CDMO #Biologics #AdvancedTherapies #CellTherapy #GeneTherapy #LifeSciences #ManufacturingLeadership

95% of our viewers aren’t subscribed. If you’re watching and not yet subscribed, please subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss future episodes.This week on Making It In Manufacturing, Thomas McMann sat down with Sarah Griffin, Event Manager for CPHI Americas. In this episode, Sarah covers:• Why CPHI Americas is creating a more focused, content-led experience built around meaningful industry conversations and strategic partnerships.• How the event has evolved to meet growing demand for deeper engagement between pharmaceutical companies, CDMOs, technology providers, regulators, and investors.• Why CDMOs are moving from outsourced service providers to long-term strategic partners, with greater transparency, collaboration, and shared risk.• How pharmaceutical companies are balancing supply chain resilience, regionalisation, outsourcing strategies, and operational agility in a changing global market.• What will define the next phase of growth for pharmaceutical services, including advanced therapies, AI integration, talent development, and partnership-driven business models.Be sure to watch this episode if you're attending CPHI Americas to get a complete overview of the agenda and key highlights. Even if you won't be there in person, it's still worth tuning in to stay up to date with the latest CPHI news, announcements, and live event updates.Follow ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalentSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ngInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575Website: https://arto-talent.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artotalentSarah GriffinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-griffin-cem/Thomas McMannLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-mcmann-05540a10b/Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:48 What makes CPHI Americas different02:20 Why the event is becoming more content-led03:25 New features and event changes for this year04:31 The purpose behind the Hot Seat sessions05:28 Sarah’s outlook ahead of the event05:54 How CDMO partnerships are evolving07:53 Supply chain resilience and outsourcing strategies09:08 Demand for integrated pharmaceutical services10:18 What separates successful CDMOs from competitors12:03 Future growth drivers in pharmaceutical services13:16 Collaboration and raising industry standards14:11 What Sarah is most excited about at CPHI Americas15:23 Sessions Sarah is looking forward to attending16:23 Quick fire round16:42 Biggest trend dominating pharma conversations16:58 Biggest concern for pharma leaders17:12 What makes CPHI Americas different from other events17:37 Industry conversations that need more openness18:09 Closing thoughts#MakingItInManufacturing #ARTOTalent #PharmaceuticalManufacturing #CDMO #PharmaServices #Biologics #CellAndGeneTherapy #SupplyChain #PharmaIndustry #DrugDevelopment

95% of our viewers aren’t subscribed. If you’re watching and not yet subscribed, please subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss future episodes.What does it take to build a CDMO designed around speed, integration, and true scientific collaboration?This week on Making It In Manufacturing, Harry Sloan sat down with LakshmiDevi Ethirajan, Co-Founder & CEO of SmaBioLabs, with 25+ years of experience spanning big pharma, small pharma, and CDMO leadership roles across drug development and manufacturing.In this episode, LakshmiDevi Ethirajan covers:• How a background in pharmacy and pharmaceutical development led to the creation of SmaBioLabs and the vision behind building a fully integrated CDMO• Why bringing discovery, formulation development, and analytical services together under one roof reduces risk and improves program execution• The importance of speed and flexibility in pharmaceutical development, including why projects at SmaBioLabs begin within two weeks of contract signing• How technical integration between discovery scientists and formulation teams supports complex molecules and improves development outcomes• The long-term vision for SmaBioLabs, including commercial manufacturing expansion and becoming a complete end-to-end partner for sponsorsIf you are involved in pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotech growth, CDMO strategy, or drug development leadership, this conversation offers a practical perspective on building scalable scientific partnerships in a rapidly evolving industry.Follow ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalentSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ngInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575Website: https://arto-talent.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artotalentLakshmiDevi EthirajanCo-Founder & CEO of SmaBioLabsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakshmidevi-ethirajan/Harry SloanBD CDMO Lead at ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-sloan-605620154/Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:14 LakshmiDevi Ethirajan’s journey into pharmaceuticals01:07 Why sponsor and CDMO alignment matters02:27 Building an end-to-end CDMO model03:58 Speed and flexibility in drug development05:00 Supporting complex molecules through integration06:46 The meaning behind the SmaBio Labs name07:56 Growth plans and commercial manufacturing ambitions08:51 Standing out in the competitive CDMO market10:17 The North Carolina biotech ecosystem12:37 Leadership, culture, and patient impact13:53 Closing remarks#MakingItInManufacturing #ARTOTalent #CDMO #PharmaceuticalManufacturing #DrugDevelopment #Biotech #LifeSciences #ManufacturingLeadership #PharmaIndustry #Biotechnology #DrugDiscovery #AnalyticalServices #FormulationDevelopment

95% of our viewers aren’t subscribed. If you’re watching and not yet subscribed, please subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss future episodes.How do leading CDMOs move beyond manufacturing to become true development partners? In this episode, Jeffrey Speicher shares how integrated development, technical problem solving and long-term partnerships are shaping growth in outsourced pharma manufacturing.This week on Making It In Manufacturing, Harry Sloan sat down with Jeffrey Speicher, General Manager Commercial of PLD Pharma, with over 30 years of experience spanning engineering, commercial leadership, contract manufacturing, OTC product development and strategic growth across the pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare sectors.In this episode, Jeffrey Speicher covers:- How PLDevelopments evolved from a private label manufacturer into a full CDMO model focused on end-to-end support for customers- Why in-house development and commercialisation capabilities help accelerate speed to market and reduce manufacturing risk for pharmaceutical products- The importance of designing formulations around commercial manufacturing equipment from the very beginning of the R&D process- How product diversification across liquids, tablets, electrolytes, and gummies creates broader manufacturing capabilities within the CDMO market- Why partnership-led relationships matter for pharmaceutical brands looking for quality, consistency, and long-term manufacturing support in the US market For anyone operating across CDMO strategy, OTC innovation or outsourced development, this is a thoughtful conversation on what partnership-led manufacturing really looks like. Be sure to check out the full episode for a deeper discussion on leadership, commercial growth and differentiated execution in pharma services.Follow ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalentSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ngInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575Website: https://arto-talent.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artotalentJeffrey SpeicherGeneral Manager Commercial at PLD PharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-speicher-826746/Harry SloanCDMO BD Lead at ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-sloan/Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:21 Jeffrey Speicher introduction and overview of PL Developments00:45 The origins of PL Developments and private label manufacturing01:07 Transitioning into a CDMO-focused business model01:25 What differentiates PL Developments from traditional CDMOs01:44 The advantages of broad formulation and manufacturing capabilities02:26 Why upstream development support improves project success03:05 Connecting R&D with commercial manufacturing equipment03:37 Speed to market and reducing commercialisation risk03:55 Competing through partnership and customer focus04:29 Balancing speed, efficiency, and scalability in manufacturing05:09 Developing OTC gummies and expanding manufacturing capabilities05:28 Designing products around plant strengths05:40 Eliminating risk during commercial transfer05:44 Closing remarks#MakingItInManufacturing #ARTOTalent #CDMO #PharmaceuticalManufacturing #OTCManufacturing #DrugDevelopment #ContractManufacturing #LifeSciences

95% of our viewers aren’t subscribed. If you’re watching and not yet subscribed, please subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss future episodes.The CDMO landscape is crowded, fragmented, and increasingly complex. What does it take to stand out and lead in such a competitive space?This week on Making It In Manufacturing, Harry Sloan sat down with Tom Sellig, CEO of Adare Pharma Solutions with a long-standing career spanning commercial leadership, pharma services, and executive roles across global organisations including, Procter and Gamble, Covance, Patheon, LabConnect, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.In this episode, Tom Sellig covers:- How Adare Pharma Solutions positions itself as a technology-driven oral solid dose CDMO with global capabilities across North America and Europe- Why having both US and European manufacturing capabilities is critical for business continuity, regulatory navigation, and client needs in today’s geopolitical environment- The key differentiators behind Adare’s success, including technological breadth, flexibility as a mid-sized CDMO, and the ability to support both large-scale and highly specialised projects- Building a deeply embedded client-centric culture, including company-wide alignment and continuous customer feedback integrationFor leaders navigating the CDMO and broader Life Sciences manufacturing space, this episode offers a grounded perspective on strategy, growth, and execution. Watch the full conversation for a clear view on what sustainable leadership in this sector really looks like.Follow ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalentSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ngInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575Website: https://arto-talent.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artotalentTom SelligCEO at Adare Pharma ServicesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomsellig/Harry SloanBD CDMO Lead at ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-sloan-605620154/Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:20 Overview of Adare Pharma Solutions01:05 Importance of global footprint in CDMO services01:45 Key differentiators in a competitive CDMO market02:43 Client-centric culture and organisational alignment03:40 Career journey and leadership development04:25 Lessons from scaling and acquisitions at Patheon05:05 The Adare framework and company values05:57 Future outlook for Adare and the CDMO landscape07:00 Closing remarks#MakingItInManufacturing #ARTOTalent #CDMO #LifeSciences #PharmaManufacturing #Biopharma #Leadership

What does it take to scale complex biologics manufacturing while keeping speed, quality, and communication aligned? In this episode, Ian Glassford explains how integrated CDMO partnerships are helping biotech companies accelerate ADC and bioconjugate programs from discovery through to commercial manufacturing.This week on Making It In Manufacturing, Harry Sloan sat down with Ian Glassford, VP at Abzena, with more than a decade of experience spanning medicinal chemistry, synthetic chemistry, bioconjugation, biologics manufacturing, and CDMO leadership roles across GSK and Abzena.In this episode, Ian Glassford covers:• How Abzena approaches integrated ADC and bioconjugate manufacturing across discovery, development, and GMP production (00:00)• Why communication and true partnership models are becoming critical for CDMOs supporting fast-moving biotech programs (02:55)• The balance between speed to clinic, process standardisation, and maintaining manufacturing quality in complex biologics (03:37)• Ian’s transition from medicinal chemistry at @GSK into leadership within the bioconjugation and ADC space at Abzena (08:11)• Where the future of ADCs, AOCs, radionuclide conjugates, and commercial manufacturing is heading over the next five years (10:25)For anyone working across biologics manufacturing, ADC development, CDMO partnerships, or complex therapeutics, this conversation offers a practical look at how experienced operators are adapting to increasingly demanding timelines and evolving modalities across the biotech industry.Follow ARTO:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalentSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ngInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575Website: https://arto-talent.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artotalentIan Glassford:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-glassford-phd-mba-28270529/Harry Sloan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-sloan-605620154/?skipRedirect=trueTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and live recording from DCAT Week in New York00:39 Ian Glassford explains Abzena’s role in the ADC and bioconjugate CDMO market01:25 The biggest operational challenges in ADC and AOC manufacturing02:43 What biotech clients are really looking for beyond technical expertise03:37 Managing the balance between speed, quality, and execution04:53 How integrated CDMO and CRO models improve timelines and supply chain control06:43 The importance of communication and partnership in complex programs08:11 Ian’s career journey from medicinal chemistry into bio conjugates10:00 Transitioning from hands-on science into site leadership10:25 Where Abzena and the wider ADC market are heading in the next five years11:51 Adapting CDMO models to support evolving biologics modalities12:29 Closing thoughts#MakingItInManufacturing #ARTOTalent #Biotech #CDMO #Biologics #ADC #DrugDevelopment #Manufacturing #Pharmaceuticals #Bioconjugates