We speak to pharmaceutical leader MSD ( Merck in the US and Canada ) about digitising the supply chain and their global blockchain innovation programme
MSD
We speak to pharmaceutical leader MSD ( Merck in the US and Canada ) about digitising the supply chain and their global blockchain innovation programme
MSD ' s origins go all the way back to the 17th century , when Friedrich Jacob Merck purchased a drug store in Germany , which later evolved into a drug manufacturer . Today it is not only one of the world ' s largest pharmaceutical companies but is also one of the world ' s biggest companies in any sector , ranked 69 on the 2021 Fortune 500 list .
Five years ago , MSD began a digital transformation programme , with the aim of accelerating growth and modernising operating models across the business , including the supply chain .
Paolo Migliari , Executive Director Supply Excellence and Head of Connected Channels Global Blockchain Programme explains that the patient is at the core of the digital project . " Everything we do in terms of digital transformation should be patient-centric . Whatever we build in our digital portfolio must have the patient at the centre ."
MSD has a " plant to patient " programme with four key priorities : leveraging data to enable automation and move towards more advanced analytics ; streamlining decisionmaking and ways of collaborating ; focusing on growth drivers ; and innovating with Blockchain technology to create additional value .
A key goal is to get products to the patients as fast as possible , as well as reducing overall cost and friction . " We are building solutions to make the supply chain more secure and of higher quality , by helping other institutions help with patient adherence " Migliari adds . " The aim is to create an ecosystem that will allow usto make this possible ."
Within MSD ' s digital transformation is a digital logistics programme . Fredric Brut , Head of Supply Chain for EMEA and APAC , explains : " Supply chain transparency and real-time visibility of inventory positioning and movement , driven by increased value of freight , time and temperature sensitivity of the product portfolio , and potential for freight diversion , offered an opportunity to engage in more real-time alert track and trace technology .”
In 2015 MSD began to review its technology , and invited TransVoyant on board as a partner to provide IoT capabilities .
TransVoyant provides a consolidated data platform that helps MSD track products through IoT ( Internet of Things ) monitoring services , that offer real-time visibility and responsiveness in terms of shipment position , temperature , light and other critical aspects of shipping . " TransVoyant is a key partner for us ," Brut says . " We leverage their digital technology in a cloudbased platform , to drive data integration , return shipment visibility , lane risk assessment and predictive analysis . It ' s a really great application and service for us to track our products through . and with some 3rd party warehouses ”.
4 www . msd . com