As the Process Execution Team Lead and Head of Manufacturing for our Coppell Supply Site at AstraZeneca, I currently lead the manufacturing and technical teams responsible for the sole manufacture of a medicine that reaches millions of patients worldwide. I also drive strategy and operational excellence initiatives including safety, quality, lean manufacturing, while reinforcing our commitment to making the site a great place to work. I work across site teams to maximise our manufacturing resources and assets while building a platform to ensure long term growth and supply of our medicine in anticipation of current and future patient needs.

I have more than 15 years of experience in Process Engineering and Technology at AstraZeneca and other large biopharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing companies. During this time, I have gained experience in downstream manufacture of biologics medicine, organic and inorganic chemical manufacturing, aseptic manufacturing, validation, process development and design.

I am passionate about lean leadership, talent management, and building a highly motivated, high performing team and creating a fun and thriving work environment at AstraZeneca. I have a deep-seated belief that everyone should bring their whole self to work, so I work every day to foster a culturally diverse and inclusive work environment. I am a strong champion for bringing global inclusion and diversity programs to our site to build cultural awareness and intelligence.

I earned my Master’s degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and my Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

I am passionate about process and manufacturing operational excellence at AstraZeneca. Operational excellence for me isn’t a finish line; it is the starting point for continuous improvement that pushes the boundaries of science, technology, digital factory, and our teams forward to meet the needs of our patients.

Eniola Ashafa PET Lead/Head of Manufacturing for Coppell Supply Site, AstraZeneca

2019 AstraZeneca Operations Team Award Lean Category

Breakthrough productivity improvements using Lean Ways of Working

Headshot of Eniola Ashafa, Process Execution Team Lead and Head of Manufacturing for the Coppell Supply Site at AstraZeneca

CURRENT ROLE

PET Lead/Head of Manufacturing for Coppell Supply Site, AstraZeneca

Operational Excellence Strategy and Manufacturing Back to Basics

Year-on-year reduction in operations deviation, driving high and consistent production schedule adherence, team leadership development and improved employee engagement.

Robust 5000L Double Batch Process

Process development of breakthrough productivity improvements delivering 100% increase in process yield.

Reactor configuration redesign

Technical design of new agitator configuration to control formation of non-targeted crystalline phase in medicine manufacture.

 Featured publications

Making Medicines For The Future

Shichtman, Sandra H. “Making Medicines For The Future.” Woman Engineer, Vol. 42, No. 3, Spring 2022, pp. 20-23. http://bt.e-ditionsbyfry.com/publication/frame.php?i=746819&p=&pn=&ver=html5

Veeva ID: Z4-56961
Date of preparation: September 2023