The production of tablets involves several steps. Here is a general outline of the process:
1. Formulation: The first step is to develop the formulation of the tablet, which includes selecting the active ingredients and determining their quantities, as well as choosing the excipients (inactive ingredients) that help in the tablet's formation and stability.
2. Blending: The active ingredients and excipients are mixed together in a blending machine to ensure a uniform distribution. This step is crucial to achieve consistent potency and quality throughout the tablet batch.
3. Granulation: In this step, the blended powder mixture is converted into granules. Granulation helps improve the flowability of the powder, enhances compressibility, and reduces dust formation. There are various techniques for granulation, such as wet granulation (using a liquid binder) or dry granulation (using pressure and heat).
4. Drying: If wet granulation is used, the granules need to be dried to remove the moisture introduced during the granulation process. This is typically done in a drying oven or fluid bed dryer.
5. Milling: The dried granules may undergo milling to break down any large particles and ensure uniformity in size. This step helps in achieving consistent tablet weight and appearance.
6. Blending (again): After milling, the granules are blended again with any additional excipients or lubricants to improve flowability and prevent sticking during compression.
7. Compression: The blended granules are compressed into tablets using a tablet press machine. The machine applies high pressure to the granules, forcing them into the desired tablet shape and size. The compression force needs to be controlled to ensure consistent tablet hardness.
8. Coating (optional): Some tablets may undergo a coating process to improve their appearance, taste, or stability. Coating can also provide a delayed release or protect the tablet from moisture or light. Coating is typically done using a coating pan or fluid bed coater.
9. Quality control: Throughout the production process, quality control checks are performed to ensure the tablets meet the required specifications. This includes testing for weight variation, hardness, disintegration time, dissolution rate, and other parameters.
10. Packaging: Once the tablets pass the quality control tests, they are packaged into appropriate containers, such as blister packs, bottles, or sachets. Labeling and batch coding are also done during this stage.
11. Storage and distribution: The packaged tablets are stored in appropriate conditions to maintain their stability and potency. They are then distributed to pharmacies, hospitals, or other distribution channels for sale.
It's important to note that the specific steps and equipment used may vary depending on the type of tablet being produced and the manufacturing facility.