Corporate Finance is responsible for Meridian’s treasury and external financial reporting functions. These functions include cash management activities, determining the appropriate mix of debt and equity capital to run the business, and external reporting of financial results to shareholders, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other interested parties. Meridian’s Finance Group is also involved in modeling and evaluating return potential for various business investments (e.g., acquisitions, alliances, new products and other transactions). The Accounting area is responsible for processing business transactions including billing, disbursements, payroll, cost accounting, general ledger reporting, budgeting and forecasting activities, etc. Regulatory Affairs/Quality Assurance is responsible for ensuring that Meridian complies with all applicable company, state and federal policies and regulations relating to the quality of its products and services. It oversights the company's quality activities through audit and training programs and document and change controls. Members of this business unit facilitate 3rd party audits (including FDA and ISO audits), prepare product registrations for new products or product modifications, and maintain annual registrations with the EPA, ATF, DEA, and USDA. Research and Development (R&D) leads the company in the development of innovative products to enhance the corporate market position in the biotech industry. In addition to the development of new products, the R&D team continuously strives to improve existing products to ensure customer needs are met. R&D is also dedicated to the development and cultivation of external partnerships and collaborations to further enhance the Meridian product line. Sales and Marketing is responsible for customer sales in the U.S., Canada, South America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Its function is to market and sell Meridian’s products to customers via direct sales and distribution partners. Finished Goods Production Coats, dispenses reagents and assembles diagnostic test kits in their proper format for shipment to our customer. This would include all diagnostic products manufactured by Meridian. Para Pak Production The predominant product from the Para-Pak Department is a unique vial, cap and spork configuration used in transporting fecal specimen. There are various preservative agents that are filled into the stool transport vials. The agents are formulated, filled, and packaged in the department. Laboratory Production Department consists of trained technicians who produce the bulk antigens, antibodies and reagents that are then given to Finished Goods Production for the final part of the Manufacturing process. Processes used by Laboratory Production involve formulation, bacterial/fungal growth, tissue culture, protein assay and spectrophotometry. Laboratory Production takes the antibodies and antigens produced by the Purification Department and assembles them through a series of tests or optimizations into diagnostics kits. The kits are produced under strict Quality Septic Regulation (QSR) control. Materials Management Department coordinates the planning, ordering and purchasing of raw materials used in the manufacturing of current products and all other materials as needed. In addition, the department develops cost reduction programs in an effort to reduce overall costs to the company. MIS Information Services and Technology is a support organization. Both internal and external customers benefit from the support of various hardware/software systems. Operations Control and Support (OCS) Department consists of scientists and engineers that support manufacturing and R&D. OCS employees perform Investigations, Validations, and Process Improvements. Investigations and Validations develop, write and execute protocols, which enable Manufacturing and R&D not only to problem solve but transfer new technology into Manufacturing. Both groups propose and implement process improvements, which improve product quality and processing efficiency while reducing the cost of manufacturing. Purification Department Infinity purification of antibodies, antigens used in Meridian’s diagnostic products. The type of purification and quality of our antibodies and antigens are what separate our products from our competitors.