The 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 singlesource 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 sameday 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 Predictability
A 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.
By harnessing the power of proactive, adaptive and intuitive logistics, quality precision logistics paves the way for a future where critical patient needs are met seamlessly
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 supply shortages disrupts the entire supply chain, impacting patients and degrading healthcare access. Focusing solely on cost reduction by minimizing stock leaves one vulnerable to disruptions. The key is proactive planning. Maintaining a buffer of critical inventory based on anticipated supply constraints, alongside regular demand forecasting, is essential. This foresight prevents stockouts, ensures timely patient access to life-saving treatments and safeguards reputation.
Supplementing Proven Strategies with State-of-the-Art Technology
In the realm of pharma supply chain, we understand the pivotal impact our performance has on patients’ accessibility to essential medications and therapies. Our team focuses on optimizing and streaming the supply chain in any way we can to increase access worldwide.
This includes adopting new technology to enhance inventory tracking and order processing. Along with instilling a better analysis to predict demand, identifying the right systems for order collection reduces the time from order placement to shipment departure. By leveraging the right order capture system, the pick and pack process is automatically triggered with orders added and assessed in the queue at the time an order takes place. This saves precious time and makes the difference between achieving a same-day cutoff or delaying until the following day.
The strategic deployment of sensors throughout warehouses and packaging is transforming logistics into a data-driven discipline. This sensor network acts as a digital nervous system, continuously feeding real-time data on inventory levels, product location and movement of goods throughout the supply chain. This data forms the foundation for robust datasets that can be leveraged to build powerful forecasting tools and predictive models. As both warehouse space and product costs continue to climb, these datadriven insights become even more crucial. They empower businesses to optimize resource allocation, streamline operations and minimize waste. Looking ahead, Marken’s experts are developing strategies to integrate automation and artificial intelligence to supplement human capabilities. This convergence will not only enhance efficiency and visibility but will also unlock entirely new levels of responsiveness and agility within the supply chain
Precision Logistics as a Unifying Factor for Stakeholders
The impact of this data-driven transformation extends beyond the warehouse walls. Real-time visibility into inventory levels and shipment progress allows for improved communication, transparency, and collaboration with all stakeholders. This fosters better results, trust and transparency, allowing businesses to work together to proactively address potential disruptions, while keeping everyone from patients to lab techs informed. Additionally, the ability to leverage historical data trends and predictive analytics empowers internal operations to identify various logistics locations, optimize delivery routes, negotiate better rates, and ultimately, deliver a superior experience.
By embracing demand planning, resource allocation and technologies, we can ensure the uninterrupted flow of vital clinical trial materials and medications in the end-to-end healthcare supply chain. This commitment to efficiency goes beyond saving time and resources; it signifies our dedication to improving patient outcomes and upholding the critical role the pharmaceutical supply chain plays in healthcare. By working together, logistics teams, pharmaceutical companies and healthcare facilities create a more resilient and responsive supply chain, minimizing the impact of disruption and ensuring timely access to medications for patients and resources for clinical trials.
