Digitized Manufacturing Records Drive Operational Gains
Manufacturers are replacing paper batch records with electronic systems to improve compliance and production efficiency.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Business Strategy
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MasterControl announced the winners of its 2026 Masters of Excellence awards during the Masters Summit in Salt Lake City. The awards recognize operational and manufacturing performance across companies that use the firm's quality management software.
Why it matters
For operators in highly regulated sectors, these recognitions highlight the tangible efficiency gains companies realize through digital quality and manufacturing systems. Transitioning from paper to electronic records remains a key operational goal for scaling production compliance.
Thorne converted 80% of its paper batch records to electronic systems in 2026, targeting full implementation by year-end. Globally, 1,300 companies currently utilize MasterControl software to manage manufacturing and quality operations.
The players
MasterControl
A developer of quality management and manufacturing software solutions used by 1,300 companies worldwide.
Thorne
A manufacturer that earned the 2026 Manufacturing Excellence Award for digitizing its production batch records.
Natera
A diagnostic testing company utilizing cell-free DNA technology that won the 2026 Innovation Excellence award.
NeoGenomics
A specialized laboratory firm recognized with the 2026 Asset Excellence award.
Anthony Contreras
A leader at Jamieson Wellness who was named the 2026 Quality Champion.
The details
Award-winning firms are leveraging software tools to replace legacy paper-based record-keeping, a process that improves data integrity and audit readiness. Thorne specifically uses manufacturing excellence software to digitize operations, while Natera applies cell-free DNA technology to diagnostic development. These shifts allow manufacturers to automate compliance workflows and reduce the margin for manual entry errors.
Timeline
October 2026: The MasterControl Masters Summit was held in Salt Lake City.
2026: Thorne converted 80% of its paper batch records to electronic versions.
Year-end 2026: Thorne targets the completion of its full electronic batch record implementation.
Market Landscape
The adoption of electronic batch records (EBR) follows a broader industry trend of digitizing manual compliance operations to meet stringent quality standards. This move marks a departure from traditional paper-based systems toward automated, audit-ready manufacturing environments.
Operators in regulated industries should evaluate the labor and time costs associated with their current paper-based record systems. Reducing manual documentation through software integration is a proven method for improving batch consistency and regulatory audit outcomes.
The takeaway
Operational excellence often hinges on replacing manual, paper-dependent processes with integrated digital workflows that minimize human error. Managers should review their current document control systems for high-frequency errors that suggest the need for digitized, automated record-keeping.
What happens next
Thorne plans to reach full implementation of its electronic batch records system by the end of 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about organizational improvements in our Business Strategy section.
More information
For more details on digital quality management, visit MasterControl software solutions information.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Herald Journal.
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