As consumers, little do we know about the processes and meticulous planning it takes to bring the medicines to our table? It is a painstaking and coordinated effort of several companies to transport pharmaceutical goods. Here are some of the most critical elements of pharmaceutical order fulfillment.
Temperature and environment control:
Maintaining optimum environmental conditions such as humidity and temperature is the foremost condition for pharmaceutical order fulfillment. Logistics providers have specialized temperature-controlled vehicles to protect the contents from any harm caused by severe temperature, water, or light.
Specialized transportation:
Logistics for pharmaceutical goods must abide by strict guidelines as they are critical life-saving goods. The transportation must be safe, defect-free, and comply with hygienic standards to deliver the best quality products. That is why there are many guidelines and safety precautions in pharmaceutical order fulfillment. Inspection and examination by regulatory authorities at various checkpoints take place to ensure tamper-free transportation.
Employee involvement and empowerment:
Ensuring optimum quality in pharmaceutical goods is not the task of a single department or entity. It lies at the core of the whole supply value chain which includes various partners within or outside the organization. From packaging to the creation of formulas for medicines, everyone must have a common objective to deliver premium quality health products to the final consumer. This cannot be achieved without sufficient employee involvement and empowerment. Workforce training for handling transportation, use of technological equipment, and effective communication across various channels is mandatory for effective pharmaceutical order fulfillment.
Integrated supply chain network:
Pharmaceutical order fulfillment is an integrated workflow both horizontally and vertically across the value chain. For example, it is the task of the concerned department to develop clear and accurate SOPs for operational staff on how to handle transportation. Supply chain management software help to integrate and manage the operations by providing transparency throughout the value chain. Such endeavors help minimize risks associated with the sensitive value chain of pharmaceutical goods. It helps prevent situations such as running out of stock or piles of goods lying with a close expiry date.
Focus on continuous improvement:
A strategic approach to the pharmaceutical order fulfillment process is very important for delivering quality healthcare. A focus on continuous improvement helps maintain zero defect products. Digitization and automation across operations are some ways to implement continuous improvement. Delivering the products securely is also very important. Automated security for medicines that are prone to the robbery is important to ensure safe delivery. Continuously innovating and looking for ways to improve delivery while cutting costs is an important consideration for pharmaceutical fulfillment.
Given the complex nature and number of processes involved in the supply of pharmaceutical products, it is best to leave the job to specialized logistics providers. Medical companies and hospitals need to focus on product development and service excellence. For that matter, critical processes such as supply chain management must be outsourced to specialists that have sufficient resources, capital, and technology to deliver safe and good-quality pharmaceutical goods.
