Revolutionizing Pharma: Why Digitalization is Required for Supply Chain and Manufacturing
The pharmaceutical industry has experienced substantial growth over the last few years but has also faced numerous challenges, one of which is the manufacturing supply chain. Traditional pharmaceutical supply chain manufacturing has seen little change in recent years, leading to supply chain inefficiencies, increased costs, and compliance risks. With the rapid pace of globalization and increased demand for drugs, the need to modernize the pharmaceutical supply chain manufacturing factory has never been more pressing.
With natural disasters, international trade tensions, cyberattacks, increased energy costs, and global pandemics these are just a few of the shocks that can immobilize pharma companies. While disruption has become the new normal, not every risk is created equally. McKinsey wrote a great piece of research, "Four ways pharma companies can make their supply chains more resilient" that illustrates this.
The global pharmaceutical manufacturing market size is predicted to worth around US$ 1,190.16 billion by 2030, poised to grow at a noteworthy CAGR of 12.8% during the forecast period 2021 to 2030. It's imperative that pharmaceutical organizations future-proof their business leveraging digital technologies.
Source: Precedence Research
The Need for Modernization in the Pharmaceutical Industry
The pharmaceutical industry is a vital component of global health and economic development. However, in recent years, traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing practices have become inadequate to meet the current market's demands. This has resulted in supply chain inefficiencies, increased compliance risks, and other challenges that must be addressed to ensure the industry's continued success.
One of the biggest challenges is the connection from R&D to Commerce Supply Chain. This has a significant impact on a pharma being able to onboard new drugs to commercialize. This is known as Tech Transfer.
As such, there is an urgent need for modernization in the pharmaceutical industry. This modernization must be designed to optimize the manufacturing process, increase efficiency, and reduce costs while maintaining the highest standards of quality control and compliance.
As shown below, some of the largest pharma organizations are putting in long-range strategies that will accelerate their digital transformations.
Gartner Top 25 Pharma Digital Initiatives
Challenges Faced by Traditional Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing practices are often labor-intensive and resource-intensive, leading to low output efficiency and high operating costs. Additionally, the quality control compliance requirements in pharmaceutical manufacturing are rigorous and require strict adherence to standard operating procedures to ensure optimal operations. Unfortunately, poor quality control and compliance risks are prevalent, contributing to recalls and regulatory penalties.
Furthermore, traditional manufacturing practices are often inflexible, making it challenging to respond quickly to changing market demands. This can lead to delays in product development and delivery, which can be costly for both manufacturers and consumers.
The Impact of Globalization and Increased Demand
The pharmaceutical industry's globalization, coupled with increased demand for drugs, has necessitated changes to the pharmaceutical supply chain manufacturing process. To remain competitive and responsive to changing market requirements, drug manufacturers must create a modern physical and technical infrastructure, invest in a skilled workforce, and develop innovative manufacturing systems.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of a robust and agile pharmaceutical supply chain. The pandemic has led to a surge in demand for essential drugs, vaccines, and medical supplies, highlighting the need for a more resilient and adaptable pharmaceutical industry.
Technological Advancements Driving Change
Rapid developments in digital technology and automation have been significant drivers of change in the pharmaceutical industry. Pharma companies are investing in an innovative manufacturing mindset by automating their supply chain process while delivering new products with speed. This has led to increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved quality control.
Moreover, the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in drug discovery and development has the potential to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry. These technologies can help identify new drug targets, predict drug efficacy, and accelerate the drug development process.
The pharmaceutical industry must continue to evolve and modernize to meet the current market's demands. By embracing new technologies, investing in a skilled workforce, and developing innovative manufacturing systems, the industry can overcome its current challenges and continue to provide essential drugs and medical supplies to people around the world.
Key Technologies Transforming Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
The pharmaceutical industry is constantly evolving, and new technologies are playing a critical role in transforming the way drugs are manufactured. In this article, we will explore some of the key technologies that are driving innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Top 10 Pharma Technology Trends
Automation and Robotics
Automation and robotics have revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry, enabling high-precision manufacturing output with reduced lead time. Robotics is the most recent technology, which allows the industry to pursue more complex functionality aims with ease and reliability.
Robotic systems can perform a wide range of tasks, from dispensing raw materials and mixing ingredients to filling and packaging finished products. This eliminates the need for manual labor, reducing the risk of contamination and human error.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Pharmaceutical manufacturers are increasingly turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to streamline the manufacturing supply chain. These technologies are used to determine the optimal design of manufacturing processes, based on variable data inputs.
By employing AI and ML, pharmaceutical companies can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize human error. These technologies also enable predictive maintenance, which allows manufacturers to identify potential issues before they become a problem.
Internet of Things (IoT) and Data Analytics
The Internet of Things (IoT) is driving pharmaceutical supply chain transformation through sensor deployment in manufacturing processes. IoT data analytics enables real-time monitoring and tracking, providing end-to-end visibility and transparency. This provides the ability to respond quickly to changes in supply and demand in the industry.
IoT devices can monitor everything from temperature and humidity levels to the movement of raw materials and finished products. This data can be analyzed to identify trends and patterns, allowing manufacturers to optimize their processes and reduce waste.
Advanced Manufacturing Techniques
The pharmaceutical industry employs several advanced manufacturing techniques, such as continuous manufacturing technology, which removes batch manufacturing limitations. This allows incremental process optimization and reduces risk, variability, and cost while improving quality control.
Continuous manufacturing involves the use of a single, uninterrupted process flow, which eliminates the need for batch processing. This results in a more efficient and flexible manufacturing process, with improved quality control and reduced waste.
In conclusion, the pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by new technologies that are improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing the quality of drugs. Automation and robotics, AI and ML, IoT, and advanced manufacturing techniques are just a few of the key technologies that are driving innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Implementing a Modernized Supply Chain
Assessing Current Supply Chain Capabilities
Assessing the present supply chain capability is the first step in modernizing the pharmaceutical supply chain manufacturing industry. This step involves assessing the infrastructure, people, processes, partnerships with suppliers, and technology in use. It highlights areas that require improvements and promotes agility towards the need for modernization.
One important aspect of assessing current supply chain capabilities is evaluating the existing inventory management systems. An effective inventory management system ensures that the right products are available at the right time and in the right quantities. It also helps to reduce waste and minimize the risk of stockouts. By analyzing the accuracy and efficiency of the inventory management system, supply chain managers can identify areas for improvement and implement changes to optimize the system.
Developing a Strategic Roadmap for Modernization
Developing a roadmap helps to create complete visibility of the entire system towards a modernized supply chain manufacturing factory. It takes into account a phased approach for attaining target milestones and involves conducting a risk assessment, identifying a strategic partner, and internal execution teams.
Another important aspect of developing a strategic roadmap is identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) that will be used to measure progress towards modernization goals. These KPIs could include metrics such as inventory turnover, order fulfillment time, and on-time delivery rate. By tracking these KPIs over time, supply chain managers can monitor the success of their modernization efforts and make adjustments as needed.
Investing in Infrastructure and Workforce Development
A significant part of modernizing the pharmaceutical supply chain manufacturing factory is investing in both infrastructure and employee training. Human capital is critical towards the attainment of Agile manufacturing, and IT infrastructure is needed across the entire supply chain. Such improvements aid reducing lead times, enhancing quality, and creating cost efficiencies.
One way to invest in infrastructure is by implementing advanced technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve supply chain visibility and traceability. These technologies can help to reduce the risk of counterfeit products, improve inventory management, and enhance supply chain security.
Establishing Partnerships and Collaborations
The collaboration of key stakeholders in the pharmaceutical supply chain will enhance its overall performance. Developing partnerships and collaborations with stakeholders such as suppliers, regulatory bodies, and academia is necessary in modernizing the supply chain. These partnerships aid in enhancing productivity while driving change, sustainability, and improved business outcomes.
For example, collaborating with regulatory bodies can help to ensure compliance with regulations and standards, while partnering with suppliers can help to improve supply chain efficiency and reduce costs. Similarly, working with academic institutions can provide access to cutting-edge research and development, which can help to drive innovation and improve product quality.
Benefits of a Modernized Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
Improved Efficiency and Productivity
Modernizing Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Manufacturing improves production output by reducing batch manufacturing limitations that leads to a decrease in costs as well. Improving collaboration with suppliers and stakeholders reduces downtime, increases productivity while delivering end-products with quality assurance.
Enhanced Quality Control and Compliance
The use of technological advancements such as automation, robotics, and the IoT reduces human error by increased process and product control. This, in turn, enhances the product's quality alongside compliance with regulatory requirements.
Greater Flexibility and Responsiveness
The modernization of the pharmaceutical supply chain manufacturing factory improves flexibility by increasing production output and offering real-time decision-making supported by reliable data insights. This helps in analyzing market trends, forecasting demand, and responsiveness to various supply chain changes promptly.
Reduced Costs and Environmental Impact
The modernization of the pharmaceutical supply chain manufacturing factory enables reduction in costs concerning resources used to maintain the manufacturing plant alongside environmental wastes produced. This is maintained through leveraging the benefits of automated technologies such as robotics, IoT, and advanced manufacturing techniques.
Conclusion
Modernizing the pharmaceutical supply chain manufacturing factory serves to enhance collaboration, increase production, ensure compliance, reduce costs, and bring efficiency by leveraging innovative technologies such as AI, IoT, and advanced manufacturing techniques. It calls for a phased approach that encompasses thorough assessments, strategic roadmaps, infrastructure and employee investments, and enhanced partnerships for a successful outcome.