Gamp !!top!! — What Is
| Category | Description | Example | Validation Effort | |----------|-------------|---------|--------------------| | | Infrastructure software (OS, database engines, anti-virus) | Windows 11, SQL Server | Record version & configuration | | 3 | Non-configurable software (off-the-shelf, fixed function) | A simple digital thermometer | Moderate – test key functions | | 4 | Configurable software (user-modifiable settings) | ERP system, laboratory information system | High – test configuration & workflows | | 5 | Custom/bespoke software | In-house control code | Highest – full lifecycle validation |
In industries where product failure can mean patient illness, consumer injury, or environmental disaster—such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices—relying on software and automated systems is a high-stakes endeavor. GAMP (Good Automated Manufacturing Practice) provides a structured, risk-based framework to ensure that these computerized systems are fit for their intended use and comply with regulatory requirements. The Core Definition GAMP is a set of guidelines published by the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) . It is not a legal regulation itself, but rather a practical methodology for validating automated systems. Regulatory bodies like the U.S. FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) accept GAMP principles as an industry standard for demonstrating compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). what is gamp
In simple terms: GAMP tells you how to build, test, and maintain computer systems so that they consistently do what they are supposed to do—and can prove it to regulators. Before GAMP, companies often applied the same rigid, document-heavy validation approach to all systems—from a simple centrifuge to a complex manufacturing execution system (MES). This led to wasted effort, inflated costs, and ironically, overlooked critical risks. | Category | Description | Example | Validation