Hitting Pharma costs where it hurts

A new white paper for the Pharma sector examines how manufacturers in this industry require efficient systems support for planning the effective provision of capacity and scheduling efficient operations. The paper, authored by Access, points out that smart systems are available to offer an alternative to spread sheets and manual processes, which will contribute to efficiency and profitability.

The pharmaceutical industry is going through a period of almost unprecedented transformation. Drug patent lives are shortening, but the expense of developing new products continues to rise. What have traditionally been seen as predictably stable and profitable lines of business are rapidly becoming anything but.

This is driving pharmaceutical companies to focus on manufacturing costs. However, maximising the efficiency of plant and skilled labour now requires total visibility of production processes and the ability to create detailed forward plans and day-to-day schedules, which are essential ingredients when striving to maximise profitability.

Planning for efficient production requires not only the timely availability of materials and production capacity, but also the presence of the right people with the right skills at the right place and time. Balancing capacities and capabilities with market requirements, understanding what to make, where and when, is therefore critical to maintaining margins.

Mike Straiton, Business Development Manager for Access, says: "The paper highlights the increasing complexities of planning and shows that spread sheets are no longer adequate for the task. Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) systems, such as Access Orchestrate, however, offer an affordable, viable and functional alternative. This has been demonstrated by successful implementations in many enterprises - from global pharmaceutical majors to smaller manufacturers and sub-contractors as well as in other process industries that face similar challenges."

To obtain a free copy of the 'Hitting Pharma costs where it hurts' white paper from Access, contact: Natalie.Smith@theaccessgroup.com