Temperature Mapping Got You Stressed? | Let me help | Follow for Temp Mapping & Validation Insights ✨

What if I told you temperature mapping isn’t really about temperature?

It’s about protecting lives, ensuring compliance, and preserving trust.

While temperature is the data you’re measuring, the true goal lies beyond the numbers. It’s about safeguarding product integrity, ensuring patient safety, and upholding your organization’s reputation. Temperature mapping isn’t just a technical requirement—it’s a critical step in delivering life-saving products to those who need them most.

For over 24 years, I’ve helped life sciences companies elevate their validation processes—not just meeting global regulations but exceeding them. As a recognized thought leader in temperature mapping and equipment qualification, I’ve shaped industry standards, contributed to ISPE guidelines, and trained professionals worldwide.

Some highlights of my work include:
✅ Helping 100+ pharmaceutical and biotech companies achieve FDA & EU GMP compliance.
✅ Optimizing validation strategies to reduce timelines by up to 30% without compromising quality.
✅ Authoring industry-leading content and best practice guides.
✅ Educating and empowering professionals through training, articles, and thought leadership in validation, calibration, and compliance.

📈 With over 18K LinkedIn followers, I’m also an ISPE Good Practice Guide co-author and the author of Six Steps to Effective Temperature Mapping. My thought leadership has driven business wins, secured global speaking engagements, and positioned me as a trusted expert in the field.

So why isn’t temperature mapping about temperature? Because it’s about something far greater—the lives you’re protecting, the products you’re preserving, and the trust you’re building every step of the way.

Let’s connect to explore how we can take your validation process beyond compliance to deliver real impact.

🔍 #CQV | #Validation | #Qualification | #ISPE | #Entrepreneurship | #ContentCreation | #TemperatureMapping | #QualityAssurance | #LifeSciences | #ColdChain | #GMPCompliance

Two Romans walk into Ellab… 🇮🇪😄

No, it’s not the start of a joke - it’s just a long-awaited photo moment!

After a few years of working together across sales and marketing and time zones, we finally made the Roman & Roman photo happen! 

Sometimes the best part of the work isn’t the work - it’s the people who make it all happen. Thanks for being so cool Roman Loretts! 😎 

(And yes, the infamous Ellab logo at the Ireland global training academy made the perfect spot for this one.)

#Ellab #Validation #Compliance #LifeSciences #Ellabers #RomanandRoman

Nathan Roman 📈

I help life science leaders reduce risk and increase confidence through proven CQV, calibration & asset management strategies - turning compliance headaches into operational wins with Ellab’s end-to-end solutions.

Had a great week collaborating with my colleagues from Denmark, Switzerland and UK/Ireland! 

→ Strategy. 
→ Campaign planning. 
→ And... just a little bit of fun. 

When we align on what truly matters, share insights with openness, and stay committed to creating value, we build more than results - we build traction. Whether in business or life, clarity and connection turn vision into momentum. ☺️ 

Excited about the opportunities we are mapping for Ellab and the journey ahead!

#Ellabers #Strategy #Growth #Validation #Innovation

Quality and business performance are inseparable.

When a company faces an FDA inspection or a major audit,
it’s not just a test of systems -

it’s a test of trust.

And the people watching most closely aren’t always regulators or investors.
→ They’re your customers.
→ They’re your employees.

Recently, a vaccine manufacturer confronted serious FDA findings -
right in the middle of a pending acquisition.

Yet operations continued.
Customers stayed loyal.
Employees stayed focused.

Why?

Because leadership didn’t hide.
They stepped into the spotlight - owned the issue, communicated clearly, and moved fast to correct it.

That’s the real story:

Regulatory resilience isn’t built during a crisis.
It’s built every day before one.

It’s built every time your team:
✅ Updates documentation before an audit notice arrives.
✅ Treats CAPA as a process for learning, not blame.
✅ Communicates openly - inside and outside the company - when something needs fixing.

These daily habits build trust.
They protect not just your license to operate -
but your license to lead.

Because when confidence is shaken,
it’s not the process that saves you - it’s the people who believe in it.

Calibration & Validation — What's the Difference?

If you're working in — or breaking into — biotech, pharma, or lab operations, you'll hear these terms constantly. And they're not interchangeable.

✔️ Validation shows that a process or system consistently performs as intended.
✔️ Calibration ensures an instrument is accurate compared to a reference standard.

I wrote an article that breaks both concepts down in simple terms — when they're needed, how they're performed, and why they matter for quality and patient safety.

👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eM6TiGeB

The table below gives you a side-by-side comparison to make the distinctions even clearer.

P.S. Does this structure make the distinctions clearer for your team or clients?

Nathan Roman: Validation & Calibration

I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating…

📌 When the pressure is on, we don’t ‘rise to the occasion’ - we fall back on our frameworks.

I see this play out constantly in validation. The teams that handle audits smoothly, respond to deviations quickly, and scale without chaos aren’t necessarily smarter or more experienced. 

They’re just better prepared.

They’ve built their thinking on solid frameworks - not as checklists to pull out when needed, but as mental models that guide every decision.

When an auditor asks a tough question, they don’t scramble. When a deviation occurs, they don’t panic. They return to their foundation and work from there.

That preparation creates something invaluable: clarity and confidence when it matters most.

Here’s what separates good validation teams from great ones:

✅ They internalize frameworks, not just reference them

✅ They practice their thinking before the pressure hits

✅ They build muscle memory around their processes

💬 The question isn’t whether pressure will come. It’s whether you’ll be ready when it does.

—
#ValidationMatters #GMPCompliance #LifeSciencesLeadership #QualityExcellence

My biggest lesson from the last 20+ years in validation?
We can’t keep using yesterday’s methods for tomorrow’s problems.

(Especially when the industry is becoming more digital by the day.)

Next month, I’m co-hosting an ISPE webinar with Michelle Vuolo and Tatiana Illgen called: 

"Unlocking Innovation: Embracing Validation 4.0 for a Digital Pharma Future"
 
And if your team is feeling the pressure to move faster while staying compliant - this one matters.

Because Validation 4.0 isn’t an upgrade. It’s a paradigm shift.

It moves us from:
❌ Fixed, static validation runs
❌ Paper-heavy documentation
❌ One-time “prove it once” thinking
❌ Slow evidence generation that delays release

To a model built for a digital pharma future:
✅ Real-time, data-driven evidence
✅ Scalable digital systems
✅ Continuous learning and improvement
✅ Stronger, leaner verification of control

And the best part?
It doesn’t replace fundamentals - it builds on them:
• Quality by Design
• Quality Risk Management
• Knowledge Management

We’ll walk through how this shift helps teams avoid bottlenecks, accelerate timelines, and maintain verifiable control in an increasingly digital environment.

What you’ll learn:
✔️ How Validation 4.0 removes traditional validation bottlenecks
✔️ How digital, real-time evidence speeds product release
✔️ 1–2 case studies showing this approach in practice
✔️ Why modern data systems are essential for GxP integrity
✔️ How to prepare your operations for this shift today

If your site, team, or projects still feel “stuck” in older validation ways - this is a good place to start fresh.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/eX9ZfSDf

👉 If you want to see more posts on CQV, temperature mapping, and validation strategy, be sure to follow me, Nathan Roman 📈.

#Validation40 #CQV #LifeSciences #AI #DataIntegrity #GxPCompliance #DigitalTransformation #ISPE

Every day there are professionals out there looking for clear, practical guidance.

❌ Not theory
❌ Not vague advice

But steps they can use on the job — today.

And here’s what often gets overlooked:

I don’t just talk about temperature mapping.

I talk about how work really moves across a GMP lifecycle — from concept → design → commissioning → qualification → monitoring → continuous compliance.

I speak across the entire compliance lifecycle:

→ Regulatory standards
→ Industry guides
→ Risk management
→ Process design
→ Validation strategy
→ CQV
→ Commissioning
→ IQ/OQ/PQ
→ Monitoring
→ Data integrity
→ Documentation

These are the areas teams wrestle with every day — and they deserve straightforward support, not complicated answers.

This new 9-step ULT freezer mapping guide is just one example of that commitment.

It’s for the people who want to work correctly, confidently, and without guesswork.

If you want the guide, be sure to click here: https://lnkd.in/drxZUuSs

🎯 Streamline your Next Validation or Qualification Project

Every successful ULT freezer qualification starts with a clear, structured process - one that saves time, reduces risk, and ensures compliance every step of the way.

At Ellab, we combine global expertise with local support to help life science companies navigate qualification and validation efficiently and confidently.

Our 9-Step Guide breaks down the full process from preparation to final reporting, helping you:
✅ Strengthen data integrity and audit readiness
✅ Reduce downtime and complexity
✅ Gain consistency across sites and teams

📘 Download the full guide and see how to optimize your validation and qualification projects here: https://lnkd.in/drxZUuSs

If you have doubts, ask the author Nathan Roman 📈 directly in the comments!

A 9-Step Guide to Temperature Mapping an Ultra-Low Freezer

Last night, I had the privilege of leading a remote session with professionals at Ellab Academy Singapore.

Participants didn't just attend - they got the chance to really take a look into temperature mapping and CQV fundamentals:

→ From foundational strategy → to flawless execution.

A big thank you to Nerissa Low, Nevil Ng, Roger Sanson and Bhavesh Panchal for the invitation and for including me in such a meaningful, global program. 🙏

It's truly inspiring to connect with professionals who share the same crucial mission:

- Improving quality
- Ensuring compliance
- Elevating patient safety

Even from across the globe, the curiosity, engagement, and unwavering commitment to doing things the right way was encouraging. That’s the power of Ellab Academy!

In this session, we focused on connecting principles with practice and building true confidence in data and systems.

We covered key topics that directly impact data integrity and successful validation:

✅ Determining sensor locations & numbers
✅ The role of mapping inside the CQV lifecycle
✅ Common mistakes that compromise data integrity
✅ How documentation turns data into defensible proof

P.S. 👇 If your team is planning an equipment qualification or a temperature mapping study and needs expert guidance on:

→ Protocol design
→ Sensor strategy
→ Execution support
→ Compliance documentation

Let’s talk!

👉 Send me a DM or book a short call - I’d be happy to help you plan your next successful study.

#Ellab #TemperatureMapping #CQV #Validation #Compliance #EllabAcademy #LifeSciences #Pharma

📸 Here’s a glimpse from the session in Singapore. If you missed this one, stay tuned for future Ellab Academy events around the world!

Happy Thanksgiving, LinkedIn Fam 🦃

Just waiting for the other family to show up.

In our house, we still have the adult table…
…and the “kids” table.

Except the kids are now 16, 17, and 18.
Time really does move fast.

Are you sitting at the adult table or the “kids” table this year? 😂 

Grateful today.
Grateful always.

Enjoy the day, however you’re celebrating.

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Most companies don’t need another validation vendor.

They need a better outcome from the work they already pay for.

Here’s the question I always ask:

“If nothing changed with your current vendor, what would the next 12 months look like?”

If the answer is delays, rework, or qualification anxiety…

You don’t have a vendor problem. You have a system problem.

My solution:

The Vendor Upgrade Framework:
	1.	Identify friction
	2.	Map risk
	3.	Replace weak processes
	4.	Standardize documentation
	5.	Deliver predictable outcomes

This isn’t about switching vendors.
It’s about switching to predictability.

Want your validation done right the first time? I’m the easiest upgrade you’ll make this year—and the one that sets you up for a winning year ahead. 

Let’s work together! ✌️

Stop treating Commissioning and Qualification as separate hurdles.

Embrace an integrated C&Q process from day one.

A single, risk-based verification plan saves time, reduces cost, and accelerates your speed-to-market. It's that simple.

Legacy thinking keeps them apart. Modern practice brings them together. For detailed guidance, refer to the ISPE Baseline® Guide: Volume 5 – Commissioning and Qualification (Second Edition).

#CQV #Validation #Commissioning #ISPE #Ellab #Lean #Efficiency #ProjectManagement

You’re in the middle of a temperature mapping study... 

And suddenly - it hits you.

Did you actually document the datalogger placement in the protocol?

- - -

Validation professionals you know this scenario… 🤐 

This is why validation isn’t just about execution; it’s about documentation. 

If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen.

You don’t find the right team. 
You build it.

(And that changes everything about how you lead.)

Everyone talks about finding the “right people.”

The truth?

Leadership shapes the team into being right.

In honor of our vets this week, I’d like to share a story Mark O'Donnell once wrote on leadership and team performance.

https://lnkd.in/e_GxeGui

He said something that stuck with me: “There are no bad teams, only bad leaders.”

In the story, he shared how a struggling Navy SEAL team turned things around the moment their leader changed.

Same people. Different outcome.

It wasn’t talent that made the difference — it was leadership.

Mark also shared an example close to home: my own journey leading validation teams over the years.

He talked about how belief, humility, and teamwork built a high-performing group that’s stayed together for years and outperformed by 20% margin.

It’s wasn’t luck.
It’s not credentials.
It’s leadership — the kind that inspires, enables, and stays connected.

When leaders take full responsibility for outcomes, something powerful happens:

• Trust grows
• Performance rises
• Potential turns into proof

There are no bad teams — only leaders who haven’t found their rhythm yet.

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e_GxeGui

If you’re leading a CQV, validation, or compliance project and need a partner who brings both leadership and technical depth — I can help.

Send me a DM or book a quick call to learn how I can help.

Who owns your state of control - and do they know it? 💡

Part 5 of our 'Temperature Matters' series reveals how to build and sustain a culture of thermal compliance. Empower your teams with targeted training and reinforce ownership across operations, QA, and facilities.

📖 Read now: Temperature Matters | Building a Culture of Control

Welcome to the final edition of Temperature Matters, closing our five-part series on the foundations of thermal compliance. Across the past four editi

Open article: Part 5: Building a Culture of Control by Nathan Roman 📈 • 9 min read

They say you can't succeed alone, and these past couple of years proved it. 

These guys are the definition of 'all in.' 

They embody the energy, the strategy, and the heart brought to every single challenge we tackled.

I’ve been lucky to have partners who support me and who bring that unmatched 'Rod Tidwell' energy—pure loyalty and heart.

Help me help you... celebrate these guys! 🙌

Thank you for helping me accomplish so much. Here’s to your continued success—you guys deserve it all.

🎥: Gordie Tamayo and Joe Wilde

What if the risks you're managing during qualification are already too late? 

Part 4 of our 'Temperature Matters' series explores integrating QRM into every phase of mapping and qualification. Discover how ICH Q9 principles and performance data drive lean, robust strategies. 😁👍 

📖 Read now: Temperature Matters | The Role of Risk Management

Welcome to the latest edition of Temperature Matters, part four of our five-part series on the foundations of thermal compliance. Last time, we explor

Open article: Part 4: The Role of Risk Management by Nathan Roman 📈 • 9 min read

Most CQV delays aren’t technical failures.
They’re scheduling failures.

I’ve seen $2M+ projects sit idle because no one planned for CQV upfront.

Here’s what gets missed…

→ Document generation and review cycles
→ Execution windows and resource availability
→ Final report approvals

The 3 mistakes that kill timelines:

1. Late involvement

▪️Validation gets looped in after equipment is ordered.
▪️Now you’re retrofitting requirements instead of building them in.

2. No clear definition of “done”

▪️When is equipment qualified? When is the area validated? When can production start?
▪️Without defined acceptance criteria, you’ll debate this at the finish line.

3. Incomplete turnover packages

▪️Engineering hands off equipment without:
→ Calibration records
→ As-built drawings
→ Vendor documentation
▪️Now validation is chasing paperwork instead of executing.

The fix: CQV isn’t a phase at the end.

It’s a workstream that runs parallel to your entire project.

→ Budget for it. 
→ Schedule for it. 
→ Staff for it.

If you’re making these mistakes right now, you’ve got two choices:

1️⃣ Keep hoping the next project goes better (it won’t).
2️⃣ Or bring in someone who’s done this 1,000+ times.

I help pharma and biotech companies:

→ Build CQV into project plans from day one
→ Define turnover criteria that eliminate finish-line chaos
→ Execute qualification strategies that pass audits without drama

The companies I work with don’t scramble at the end.

They don’t delay production starts.

They don’t get audit findings on qualification gaps.

DM me “PROJECT” and I’ll show you exactly where the landmines are in your timeline. 👍🏻

The year was 2014 (geez over a decade already), and one of our consultants - let’s call him Marcus - was knee-deep in a complex compliance project. 

He was crushing it for a major client, delivering the kind of work that should have generated serious future business. 

Marcus was the ultimate doer.

But there was one nagging problem eating away at opportunity: nobody knew who the hell he was working for.

Marcus was on-site every single day, grinding. But when he walked the floor, every employee at the client’s facility assumed he was with ‘Local Pharma Solutions’ - a long-established competitor. 

Why? 

Because they were visible. 

Marcus, representing our firm ‘Validation Consulting Group’, was invisible. 🫥 

He sent us an urgent message: 

“Everyone here thinks I’m with Summit. This is a problem. Can you overnight me some VCG polos and tees? XXL Tall.”

Here’s the brutal irony: Marcus was an expert delivering premium value. But the perception of that value (the brand equity, the word-of-mouth, the future RFPs) was flowing straight to our competitor. 

We were doing championship-level work and handing the trophy to someone else. All because of a missing shirt.

Think about it: every conversation Marcus had was valuable. Every problem he solved built trust. Every recommendation he made established authority. 

Those were the daily deposits into the relationship bank. 

But when it came time for the client to remember who delivered that value (when they sat in a meeting six months later deciding who to call for the next project) the credit went elsewhere.

This moment crystallized something critical: You can’t just be the best. You have to look like the best. 

You have to make it stupidly easy for clients to remember you, recognize you, and advocate for you.

Don’t let a $20 piece of cloth kill a $50,000 opportunity.

Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.

Block out 30 minutes today. 
Audit your visibility - online presence, client-facing materials, even what you’re wearing on-site. 

Ask yourself:
“What’s my $20 t-shirt? What small, fixable thing is costing me big opportunities?”

Then fix it. 

⟶ Order the shirts. 
⟶ Update the deck. 
⟶ Send that follow-up email. 

Make your value visible.

Because all the expertise in the world means nothing if nobody knows it’s yours.

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We’ve all seen it: the productivity spike right before a meeting or audit.

People scramble. 
Emails fly. 

Everyone hopes the data doesn’t reveal something they can’t defend.

That isn’t readiness. That’s survival mode.

If your team only moves when a deadline looms, the system broke long before the inspector showed up.

The organizations that don’t panic? They run on a steady cadence.

- Weekly pulse checks. 
- Clean documentation. 

No surprises.

They understand how their equipment behaves, not just how it was qualified.

Their calibrations, SOPs, job descriptions and records are already current - not updated in a frenzy the night before.

They test themselves with mock audits instead of waiting for the real one.

They walk into inspections with a plan, not a reaction.

When you operate with a finger on the pulse (heartbeat), an audit doesn’t cause panic. It just confirms what you already know is true.

So… for years the real Christmas trees 🎄 have been so expensive. And so the other year we broke down and got fake one. But they say this year they will be more affordable. 🤷

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