Tag: Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

Pharma Logistics: Up in the Air or in Deep Water?

Last month our CEO, Amy had a chat with James Strachan from The Medicine Maker on the popular topic of modal shift. Amy expressed her thoughts and opinions why both modes are very relevant, however their future success is dependant upon embracing current demands in innovation and compliance. Please click here to read the complete article.

Pharmaceutical outsourcing, pharma logistics, logistics

PHARMA OUTSOURCING & PARTNERSHIP 2018 EUROPE

 

On the 26th February our ASC Associate, Tom Cochrane will be presenting on ‘An Approach to Global Supply Chain Security in Today’s Pharma Industry’ at the Pharma Outsourcing & Partnerships 2018 Europe He will be sharing his 35 year industry experience on the following:

●  Identifying the risks in the supply chain

●  Designing and implementing a security management system

●  Reviewing some examples

●  Sharing best practice

The two-day Pharma Outsourcing & Partnership Global Congress 2018 Europe will provide a unique platform for the convergence of stakeholders in the industry to interact, discuss and network with top tier government, hospitals, pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals and non-profit organizations as well as regional and local service providers to discuss and share on the outsourcing and partnership strategies, challenges and opportunities, global collaboration and the future of pharma outsourcing and partnership.

Let us know if you are also attending? We hope to see you there.

uni of huddersfield

Exploring Pharmaceutical Logistics with Supply Chain Students at University of Huddersfield

On 7th March, our CEO Amy Shortman will be speaking at a Healthcare Logistics and Supply Chain Management event at the University of Huddersfield. The event has been organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and is aimed at inspiring local professionals and supply chain students alike.

Amy will be providing the initial Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Logistics Industry Overview, which will be followed by a series of talks covering automated technology, the NHS carbon footprint, and GS1 standards.

The event will also include a networking lunch, something which we at ASC believe is crucial in business. The opportunity to meet professionals from other areas within the industry and share knowledge and insights is invaluable. It was a similar networking event, run by Women in Logistics, which led to Amy becoming involved in this, after discussing with Bethany Fovargue, Operations manager at NOVUS Trust The Chartered Institute of Logistics, how to engage the next generation.

Amy is particularly looking forward to meeting with the supply chain students at the University of Huddersfield, sharing her experiences of working within the industry, and finding out what inspired them to start a career in this area.

You can find out more about the event here.

 

Plane Over Docklands

Feedback from the IQPC Temperature Controlled Logistics Conference 2017

ASC were delighted to be part of this year’s IQPC Temperature Controlled Logistics Conference 2017. Hosted for the first time in London, the stage was set within the historic London dockland at ExCel. Our CEO Amy Shortman was honoured to be Chairwoman for the conference, saying, “IQPC believe that this is the first time this conference has been Chaired by a woman and I am thrilled to take part”.

Amy’s opening remarks as Chairwoman drew parallels between the Historic Docklands and the challenges we find ourselves dealing with today. The Docklands, which were once a major part of the supply chain, are no longer used since containerized sea freight needs larger vessels and in turn deep sea docks.  Similar changes in the way we handle freight can be seen today, with greater regulatory pressure creating more complex supply chains and sensitive products increasing the need for greater emphasis on temperature controlled logistics and supply chain security.

Amy Shortman ASC CEO Chairwoman of IQPC Temperature Controlled Logistics Conference 2017

As the conference progressed, a key theme began to emerge, that of the need for greater collaboration combined with outsourcing of key activities to those with the best skills and expertise. Pharmaceutical companies are slowly realising the cost and strategic benefits of doing so whilst focusing on their own strengths.

The modal shift from air to ocean was another trend highlighted at the conference, with more companies altering their stock and inventory management to accommodate the longer supply chains involved with sea freight. Technology was abundant and the continuing development of cloud based temperature monitoring systems demonstrated how the data can be utilised for continual improvements.

ASC Amy Shortman Henry Moran Conference Supply Chain Security

ASC’s Henry Moran and Amy Shortman jointly presented on Key Considerations for Supply Chain Security for Temperature Sensitive Medicinal Products, API’s and Excipients.  Their message was that whilst adhering to Good Distribution Practice (GDP) is imperative, there should be equal importance placed upon the Falsified Medicines Directive. This helps ensure that counterfeit materials don’t enter the legal supply chain, that products are not tampered with, and that supply chains protect products from theft for sale on the black market.

Henry Moran, COO stated “The sharing of case studies and best practice was exemplary and it is testament to the industry as a whole and IQPC specifically that an educational approach was taken in development of the two days”.

For a more in depth report please read the official IQPC report.

Counterfeit Drugs

The Importance of Supply Chain Security: Counterfeit Drugs

A large part of what we do at ASC Associates is supporting key stakeholders throughout the supply chain to maximise efficiency and compliance, in order to maintain product integrity and ensure the safety of the consumers. And a major aspect of this is recognising the threat of counterfeit drugs, and developing ways to secure the supply chain against this threat.

The sheer scale of the counterfeit drugs market was demonstrated recently when police in Poland shut down an illegal factory near the city of Bydgoszcz which was capable of producing millions of counterfeit medications. Within the raid, police found 100,000 counterfeit erectile dysfunction pills, alongside 430,000 vials of steroids, worth around $4.4million. However in a statement issued by the Central Bureau of Investigations in Poland (CBSP) it was recorded that the illegal unit was capable of producing much more than this.

The police managed to seize equipment that would create a whole pharma production line, including: mixers, tablet presses, blister packs, and screen printers, making it almost impossible to distinguish the counterfeit drugs from the real ones. A complex supply chain that included shipment to the UK was uncovered within the raid, and it is understood that the majority of these drugs would have been sold over the internet.

It is important to remember that the problem with counterfeit drugs goes beyond the financial implications of illegal reproductions. There are no regulations governing the production of counterfeit drugs, meaning that some may not contain even a trace of the active ingredient. And even when the medications produced do contain the active ingredient, it is often in an insufficient amount, making them ineffective and potentially dangerous as they can contribute to the development of drug-resistant strains of life-threatening diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. People die every single day because of counterfeit drugs, and that is unacceptable.

So what can we do? Well, we need to be proactive in ensuring that we are doing everything we possibly can to ensure the integrity of the supply chain. By reducing the risk of counterfeit drugs entering the supply chain, we reduce the risk to the consumer. This can be done through a combination of a thorough audit of the entire supply chain, robust planning and quality managements systems, and adequate and appropriate training for every member of staff.

We also need to be aware of changes to regulations within the industry, such as the new Delegated Regulation (EU2016/161) published recently by the European Parliament and Council to supplement the Falsified Medicines Directive. This will come into effect by 2019 and aims to introduce two new safety features – a unique identifier that can be scanned at various points along the supply chain, and tamper evident features on the packaging.

Such safety features have already been introduced and trialled, thanks to tech start-ups, and these have shown real promise. However, as this article on the BBC shows, the tech start-ups cannot solve the problem alone – for these safety measures to have any real effect they have to be embraced by us all.

We offer Supply Chain Security Audits and can advise you on the best practices for Logistics and Supply Chain Security. If you would like to know more about our services, please contact us to discuss your requirements. 

Importance of Supply Chain Security

ASC Highlights The Importance of Supply Chain Security in PMPS Magazine

Back in June, Henry Moran, our Chief Operating Officer, wrote about his experience of the FlyPharma Conference. Attending the conference had been a great opportunity for ASC Associates to network with others working in the Pharmaceutical Logistics Industry, and Henry came back full of passion for the work that we do to help manufacturers, third party logistics providers, and airlines to achieve excellence throughout the supply chain.

One of the areas that Henry highlighted in his post was the fact that, whilst there is a great focus on Temperature Management within the supply chain, security is often overlooked. We’re pleased to announce that this observation has been shared in the latest edition of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Packing Sourcer Magazine (PMPS), which you can read here. Henry is mentioned on page 50, in the article about the FlyPharma Conference 2016, which you can also see below.

ASC Associates Supply Chain Security PMPS

We’re looking forward to attending the FlyPharma Conference again next year, when it will be held on 6-7th June 2017 in Brussels. Why not head over to their site and register your interest, so that you receive the most up-to-date information straight into your inbox?

And if you’re interested in working with us to review your supply chain security, check out the services we offer or contact us for more information.

PCSC Conference, Boston

Just heading back from Boston after a fascinating week at the PCSC (Pharmaceutical Cargo Security Coalition) educational conference.

The PCSC is an organisation based in the US which comprises of pharmaceutical professionals, law enforcement and government entities, cargo insurers, carriers and risk management advocates. So basically it covers every aspect of the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain. Its key goal is preventing theft of pharmaceuticals product whilst in transit.

To be honest, this was one of the best conferences I have ever attended (and I attend a few!). A group of passionate speakers gave their own individual insights into the respective worlds. Presentations ranged from issues within the US domestics Supply Chain to challenges in South America, topped off with Global Corporate Compliance.

But most of all it was so refreshing to see that each presenter was fearless in allowing the audience into their respective challenges. We need to see more of this! Intelligently hosted and facilitated by the PCSC chairman, Chuck Forsaith.

Very much looking forward to next year, and a possible speaking spot!