This Episode outlines a Quality by Design framework for managing microbial cell banks as active, biological assets rather than static storage items. It emphasizes using a risk-based approach to monitor how factors like cell age, freezing methods, and storage stability impact long-term manufacturing performance. By applying statistical process control and evaluating post-thaw recovery kinetics, organizations can identify performance drifts before they compromise production yields. The strategy integrates functional release criteria and rigorous trending to ensure that starting materials remain consistent throughout their entire lifecycle. Ultimately, these protocols allow for defensible decision-making regarding bank replacement and proactive mitigation of potential failures. This systematic oversight transforms cell banking into a foundational element of process capability and regulatory compliance.