| | MAY 20258CIOReviewIN MY OPINIONOPTIMIZING THE PHARMA SUPPLY CHAIN: SAVING LIVES AND LOWERING COSTSBy Albert McEvoy, Senior Director of North American Logistics, MarkenThe control and service of medical products in the pharma supply chain are imperative for patients and the success of healthcare globally. As medicines become more complex and our world advances technologically, Marken's supply chains evolve to reach the highest levels of operational excellence. Marken, the clinical and advanced therapy subsidiary of UPS Healthcare, has built a foundation intuitive to the needs of its stakeholders. Through demand planning, resource allocation and applying deep expertise on the needs of specific shipments, Marken orchestrates a resilient, agile global network prepared to deliver lifesaving medicines and clinical trials into every region of the world. Today's precision logistics is designed from years of tested protocols and the adoption of best practices. After nearly 40 years, Marken has developed a methodology to go beyond standard services and create an offering as a single-source partner for delivering a new age of healthcare. From a fundamental perspective, we know good demand planning puts limits on resource costs and the ability to predict customer needs at given times helps determine the required amount of stock for a certain location. This strategic focus on being predictive allows succinct operation within a same-day or next-day delivery model while facilitating accuracy to help reduce overhead costs. The effects of good predictive forecasting and resource placement in the big picture of logistics cannot be understated.Developing Proactive Systems for Elevated Intuitiveness and PredictabilityA high level of understanding of capacity and size is necessary to fully utilize transport options, which in turn dictates where and how to locate stock for rapid accessibility and distribution. Smaller lighter shipments have a wider range of options compared to larger, bulkier items requiring wide-body flights and trucking. Ultimately, the storage location for stock hinges on both the cost of storage in a defined location and the available transportation methods for reaching its final destination. With access to the resources of the parent company, UPS, the largest logistics provider in the world, Marken can optimize routing and expenditures, minimizing overhead and maximizing efficiency.In the high-stakes world of pharmaceuticals, a demand-driven approach to inventory management isn't enough. While understanding buying trends is essential, overlooking supply limitations is problematic. Failing to account for potential Albert McEvoy
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