Quantitative analysis of operators’ flow line in the cell culture for controlled manual operation

• Main Authors: Kei Kanie, Hiroto Sasaki, Yurika Ikeda, Masaki Tamada, Fumio Togawa, Ryuji Kato
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2019-12-01
• Series: Regenerative Therapy
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352320418300695

Introduction: Although cell culture has been widely used in the life sciences, there are still many aspects of this technique that are unclear. In this study, we have focused on the manual operations in the cell culture process and try to analyze the operators’ flow line. Methods: During a course of approximately 6 years, we obtained the operators’ flow line data from two places (three layouts) and 38 operators (93 subcultures) using two network cameras and a motion detection software (Vitracom SiteView). Results: Our investigation succeeded in quantifying the flow line of the subculture process and analyzed the time taken to carry out the process, to travel around the workplace. For the subculture process, the total time of the process being rerated the time of the operation in the place where the main operation is performed; the total distance of travel and the counts of travel not being related to the total time of the process. Based on these results, we propose a new way of evaluating the efficiency of cell culture process in terms of time and traveling. We believe that the results of this study can guide cell culture operators in handling cells more efficiently in cell manufacturing processes. Conclusions: The flow line analysis method suggested by us can record the operators involved and improve the efficiency and consistency of the process; it can, therefore, be introduced in cell manufacturing processes. In addition, this method only requires network cameras and motion detection software, which are inexpensive and can be set up easily. Keywords: Cell manufacturing, Flow line analysis, Cell culture operation, Quality by design, Subculture operation