Speeding up MES projects with joint forces

How Lonza and NNIT Delivered Faster, Scalable MES Projects with a Pharma 4.0 Vision

In today’s pharmaceutical landscape, manufacturers face increasing pressure to bring complex therapies—such as personalized cancer treatments, cell and gene therapies, and vaccines to market faster. Achieving this level of agility demands more than just automation: it requires smart, integrated digital systems that can scale with evolving production needs.

Recognizing this, Lonza turned to NNIT to address the challenges of traditional MES implementation: long lead times, high costs, and inflexible solutions. Together, the teams successfully accelerated the delivery of Manufacturing Execution System (MES) projects, using a combination of Lonza’s MODA™ Platform and NNIT’s Accelerated Implementation Methodology.

The Challenge: Speed and Flexibility in a Regulated Environment

MES implementations in pharmaceutical manufacturing are often hindered by:

• Complex validation requirements

• Rigid system structures

• Slow rollout timelines

• Manual, error-prone processes

For Lonza, accelerating time-to-release for new therapies while maintaining full regulatory compliance required a different approach one that emphasized flexibility, user-centric design, and rapid configuration.

The Solution: MODA™ Platform + Accelerated Implementation

Lonza’s MODA™ Platform is a comprehensive MES solution that unifies manufacturing and laboratory data into a single digital source. Designed for paperless execution, it replaces manual processes and supports exception-based review, reducing time spent on documentation and approvals.

To bring the platform to life efficiently, NNIT applied its Accelerated Implementation Methodology, grounded in industry standards like MESA, ISA-95, and TOGAF. This approach enabled:

• Faster deployment without customization

• Scalable, modular design

• Reduced validation effort

• Seamless integration across systems and devices

The Impact: Faster Time-to-Release and Digital Maturity

The joint initiative successfully addressed key business and operational needs, delivering:

• Accelerated MES rollout across manufacturing environments

• Improved collaboration between manufacturing and quality teams

• Real-time data visibility across sites and systems

• Exception-based workflows, reducing review cycles

• A strong foundation for ongoing Pharma 4.0 transformation

With MODA™ and NNIT’s methodology, Lonza was able to transition from rigid legacy systems to a more agile, scalable, and compliant MES framework, better suited for advanced therapies and fast-moving production environments.

Proven Collaboration in Life Sciences

Over the course of the engagement, Lonza and NNIT demonstrated the strength of aligning technology with process expertise. The partnership has played a critical role in streamlining MES adoption across projects involving cell & gene therapy, QC processes, and production scale-up.

“Time-to-release for delivering critical medicines has never been more important. This solution empowered our teams to meet that challenge and scale effectively.”
Dr. Orla Cloak

Ready to accelerate your MES journey?

NNIT helps pharma and biotech companies transform their manufacturing operations through compliant, scalable MES implementations on time and on budget.

Contact us to learn how we can support your digital transformation.