Operators may also prepare powdered or granulated products as well as inspect the quality and weight of goods. While sales representatives sell remedies and distribute products for usage on a trial basis or to introduce new items to pharmacists, retail stores, or medical practitioners.
The earliest pharmaceutical jobs and remedies for injury and sickness came from the earth in the form of herbs and tree leaves, barks, and roots. The process to heal an injury may have been by trial and error, or have resulted from a sequence of planned treatments to relieve pain or discomfort. And while medical research has invented numerous cures for ailments and diseases, sometimes the ingredients found in these treatments still come from simple, natural sources. Burns are treated with lotion derived from aloe pants, and sometimes cough remedies contain eucalyptus essences. Today, however, scientists do not limit themselves to any one form of remedy. Chemical compounds and mixtures are made into some remarkable drugs. The discovery of penicillin, morphine, and vaccines have cured sickness, disease, and helped people live longer and in better health. The pharmaceutical industry is one that actively works to improve the quality of our health, and subsequently, our lives.
The pharmaceutical or drug industry has many branches that in composition of its pharmacist jobs are involved with providing remedies and pain relievers, nutritional supplements, and even with electronic diagnostic equipment. The branch for research and development concentrates on improving existing products, running tests and experiments to invent new ones, as well as evaluating products from other markets and countries. Pharmacists, research assistants, and laboratory assistants comprise the research and development branch. To varying degrees their work is experimental and reflects the process of discovery. These workers may run laboratory tests, record data, and write lab reports, and take care of lab equipment. Pharmacists may direct projects and duties to research assistants, who are then aided by the laboratory assistants.
The products that the research and development branch produces are manufactured by pharmaceutical operators. Many of these employees in pharmacy technician jobs work on production lines tending equipment that measures, weighs, mixes, or granulates ingredients that forms, fills, coats, or compresses pills and capsules. Often these employees inspect the goods, looking for broken tablets, or unfilled capsules. Meanwhile, the ampoule fillers and examiners work with glass tubes that are filled with medicine and then sealed. The process of filling is quite similar to that of the capsule filler. The operator, however, must adjust the gas flames to the appropriate temperature so that the tubes are completely sealed. Once filled, the examiners check for cracks, leaks, or other damages with magnifying glasses or hold the tube next to a clear light for a closer look.
Likewise, operators for the granulator use machines that are equipped with fine blades that mix ingredients and then crush or mill them into powdered form so that they may ultimately be formed into pills. In addition to the actual medical ingredients, gelatins or starch pastes may be added to help the pill keep its form. Again, inspection and evaluation is made to check for appropriate hardness, size, weight, and dryness.
The other branch of jobs in the pharmacy industry is comprised of administration and labor positions. Production managers may direct workers in the manufacturing field by scheduling projects, deadlines, and time necessary for completion. These employees may oversee the factories and enforce safety and health regulations, monitor efficiency, and make work assignments. They may also direct and schedule the shipping department that packs and loads the products for distribution. Service representatives supply hospitals, independent medical practitioners, pharmacists, and retail stores with products, remedies, and equipment. Sales reps may sometime be pharmacists as well as trained as sales agents.
In pharmaceutical sales jobs, telephone calls and office visits allow the representatives to keep in good contact with buyers, monitor supplies, and needs, as well as introduce new products for a trial basis. Often, reps supplement any free samples of new products with printed literature when available. Sales reps may promote vitamins and other nutritional supplements, pain relievers, treatments for burns or insect bites, and general health care supplies.
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