**London**: A recent survey reveals that supply chain visibility in the pharmaceutical sector lags behind expectations. An international company initiates a comprehensive strategy involving a command centre to enhance operational effectiveness amid ongoing challenges, aiming for better decision-making and resilience by 2027.
The adoption of end-to-end supply chain visibility remains below expectations, despite the ongoing turmoil in supply chains. A recent survey by consulting firm BCI Global and Supply Chain Media involved 123 supply chain executives, highlighting an urgent need for greater visibility and the inclination to further enhance operational capabilities.
In the pharmaceutical industry, there is a strong emphasis on the social responsibility of timely medicine delivery to patients. However, supply chain disruptions can lead to restricted availability of medications, raising the question of prioritisation in product allocation.
To address these challenges more effectively, an international pharmaceutical company initiated a digital transformation project in 2017, aiming to achieve end-to-end supply chain visibility through the establishment of a logistics control tower. Nonetheless, the firm quickly realised that the supply chain alone couldn’t mitigate these issues. Various external factors, such as customer agreements, local laws and regulations, financial implications, and the manner of communicating adverse developments, significantly influenced their operational effectiveness.
Recognising the need for a more integrated approach, the company opted to develop a command centre to build upon the existing control towers that oversaw logistics, production, and quality aspects. This command centre is comprised of a multidisciplinary team that not only includes supply chain professionals but also representatives from Marketing, Sales, and Finance. By leveraging insights from the control towers, this command centre boasts the capability to make and implement swift decisions in response to emerging challenges.
Consultancy Buck Consultants International (BCI Global) refers to this operational model as “end-to-end supply chain orchestration.” A significant 70% of supply chain executives expressed their aspiration to acquire the requisite competencies for such orchestration by 2027. As supply chains continue to evolve, the integration of diverse functions within command centres may play a crucial role in enhancing responsiveness and resilience across the industry.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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