Managing regulatory compliance is a constant challenge for those in the chemical industry. The stakes are even higher today as companies must balance adherence to strict—often exhaustive, always changing—policies and procedures with the desire to embrace digital transformation and accelerate business to keep up with growing global competition. This leaves regulatory affairs, as well as quality and compliance personnel, in the middle, serving as the conduit between standards agencies and senior leadership representing manufacturing, supply chain, and other key operational functions. The back-and-forth can be dizzying as one side expects compliance at all costs and the other desires getting product to customers faster and more efficiently than ever.

Labeling is one such area that crosses departmental boundaries. For manufacturing and supply chain, the barcode label is the passport that enables the fast identification, transport, tracking and delivery of product—from production line to end customer. For the regulatory manager, that same label must conform to myriad regulations and standards, many of which are a moving target due to constant change.