Introduction
The pharmaceutical and healthcare supply chain remains as one of the most highly regulated and monitored sectors. With the integration of AI to wearables, robotics to EHR analytics, tele and virtual health checks to advanced DNA and genomics, even 3D printing — is changing the way healthcare is applied and experienced by people.
3PLs serving pharmaceutical and healthcare businesses must be equipped with the right process, technology, and people resources to handle every stage of the supply chain from storage to picking, delivery and product recall with precision and integrity.
Implementing a robust Pharmaceutical Warehouse Management System and partnering the right pharma ready technology partner, 3PLs can build competitive advantage to serve lead in the pharmaceutical industry.
What is Expected from a Pharmaceutical 3PL?
The 3PL business partners that pharmaceutical companies engage with must be equipped with the assets, technology, human resource to manage every step of the process, from storing, picking to delivery with accuracy and integrity with a robust Pharmaceutical Warehouse Management System.
It is paramount for hospitals and clinics to have complete control over their supply chain, protecting and adhering to product integrity at the highest level.
Safety, expiry, and integrity of healthcare products are of paramount importance. Product tracking reporting and analytics gives you control and visibility throughout your supply chain, even to support product recalls.
WMS for Pharmaceutical Sector is Crucial to Your Success
The correct software tailored to pharmaceutical and healthcare requirements and/or engaging your 3PL business partner with the right Pharmaceutical Warehouse Management System is an essential part of a pharmaceutical company’s supply chain and is critical to the success of overall business activities.
Appropriate software automates inventory processing, enabling tight control and lot monitoring at all levels of warehouse management, while also complying with pharmaceutical industry rules and institutional requirements.
- Take Command of your Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
Health and food safety is vital in the supply chain. A common requirement of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare supply chain is the ability to enforce a stop issuance and product recall order based on batch tracking and country of origin.
Without a solid Pharmaceutical Warehouse Management System, Pharmaceutical 3PLs must check each order allocation manually to unallocated the affected batch and re-allocate for fulfilment, resulting in tedious manual labour for the operations team.
3PLs serving Pharma clients can differentiate themselves and build competitive advantage with software solutions such as Symphony Warehouse Management.
Because a comprehensive Pharma WMS can automate the batch tracking and product recall process, 3PLs may examine all affected goods and manage all allocations based on filters from a single, centralized screen.
As a result, the supply chain is more tightly governed and controlled. Assuring that all impacted orders are altered and not overlooked, resulting in a more rapid reaction to food safety and health concerns.
Other Success Factors for Pharmaceutical 3PL
Apart from the software technology such as Pharmaceutical Warehouse Management System, other success factors for Pharmaceutical 3PL includes:
- Efficient Warehouse Layout and Planning
A coherent warehouse architecture is critical to a pharmaceutical warehouse solution’s success. A well-organized and efficient warehouse layout, mapped into the Pharma WMS with precise defined naming system for bins and locations.
As a result, warehouse workers can identify items quickly and simply, resulting in a logical sequence that gets employees to where they need to go. The bins should be named intuitively and logically to facilitate operators in their picking and put away operations.
With real-time transaction data, and robust algorithms, a robust Pharma WMS will modify the product placement strategy automatically with ABC Classification.
For example, placing higher-moving products in picking lanes that are adjacent to shipping areas, bulk areas in a position that allows for bin replenishment, and logical storage places for cage, cooler, and vault items. Warehouse operators can also overwrite the system to alter their placement as required.
- Realtime Knowledge of Inventory on Hand
The next success factor for pharmaceutical 3PLs is in knowing your products and inventories on hand. A comprehensive WMS will help the Pharmaceutical 3PL capture and manage:
- Product attributes of each SKU
- Batch, lot, and serial number control
- ABC analysis of high transaction and slow-moving products
- Expiry dates and shelf life
- Quality control and product inspection
All these product information is then mapped into the WMS with robust tracking and real-time data reporting.
Like all controlled good, a key requirement of pharmaceutical supply chain is product segregation. A comprehensive Pharmaceutical WMS will help enforce the control over the workforce, keeping regulated products in a closed room within a pharmaceutical production plant out of bounds for warehouse transactions.
In the same way, the Pharma WMS will enforce policies where drugs and other products may have to be stored in a specified location to be refrigerated, or more regulated because they are expensive, risky, or hazardous.
- Workforce Planning, Assignment and Training
The workforce is one of the most critical success factors for a Pharmaceutical 3PL. Personnel planning into smaller or teams and training them to be competent, focused, and specialised can be the extremely competitive edge that your business requires to stand out from other 3PLs.
When choosing a Pharmaceutical Warehouse Management Software, it is critical to evaluate it software’s compatibility with other existing technologies, such as barcode scanners, and automation systems, such as conveyors, ASRS, AMR and carousels, before making a purchase.
The workforce should be trained by your Pharma WMS partner on every component of the Warehouse Management System once it has been selected, tested, and implemented to get the most out of the warehouse solution investment and guarantee that warehouse inventory is moved and monitored as efficiently as possible.
Personnel must be trained and comfortable with technology, such as barcode scanning, data gathering, product returns, order management and data analysis.
A committed, trained, and competent workforce is the key to effectively adopting a Pharmaceutical Warehouse Management System and guaranteeing the Pharmaceutical 3PL an efficient operation, automated procedures, high efficiency, and lower costs.
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