MICROSOFT
Mike J . Walker heads up Microsoft ’ s life sciences supply chain practice , and explains why industry advisory drives business value
Supply chain is a complicated industry that typically requires highly trained engineers to oversee , but pharmaceutical ( pharma ) supply chains take complexity to another level .
As well as the usual litany of supply challenges , pharma has distinct requirements on the handling of materials like a cold chain element , and also faces the perils of product recalls and compliance issues , because the field of medicine is just about the most regulated sector there is .
And then of course there ’ s the added pressure of how catastrophic any delays might prove , because the medicines being shipped are critical for ensuring patients have access to the medicines they need to maintain their health , or even keep them alive .
While there is a variety of permutations , the most prevalent today is the small molecule pharma supply chain . This chemical-based drug will typically begin with the sourcing of raw materials – active pharmaceutical ingredients – used to manufacture drugs . The manufacturing process involves several stages : formulation , quality control , packaging and labelling . Once the drugs are ready , they are shipped to warehouses or distribution centres , from where they are distributed to healthcare providers , pharmacies and hospitals .
4 microsoft . com