Be4ward

Supply Chain Processes

Supply chains in the healthcare sector are becoming ever more complex as the pressure for growth and flexibility continues.  Introduction of new and complex therapies, joint ventures with partners in other industry sectors or even competitors, increased globalisation of sourcing and the need to effectively manage risk have transformed traditionally vertically integrated supply chains.

In turn, these changes have increased the scrutiny on the performance of supply chains and the processes used to manage them, for example:

• The need to never miss an order
• Optimisation of inventory to release tied-up capital
• Increased responsiveness and agility to changing market dynamics and increasingly tailored therapies
• Lead-time squeeze from the need for enhanced customer service
• Pulls on central inventory pools from multiple channels, e.g. simultaneous clinical and commercial demands

Once a back-room activity, multiple recent events have thrust supply chain management into the limelight and companies are increasing reliance on their suite of processes to ensure efficient and effective supply chains.

Introducing and maintaining a comprehensive, fit for purpose suite of processes is therefore a cornerstone of capable supply chain management.