Life Science Network Meeting: Future proof supply & production management
The life sciences industry today is putting emphasis on pursuing best practices in supply management - and even redesign their supply management organization and processes - to improve speed to market across the value chain.
EyeOn’s 6th Life Science network meeting on September 13th 2012, revealed that all of the current supply challenges ask for an agile & solid planning framework that supports fast and optimal decision making across the value chain, bridging the gap between demand and supply.
The main driver to enable planning in a complex supply chain is end-to end visibility. This requires connected planning processes at different levels in the organization. Visibility needs to transcend sole plan optimization in organizational units or individual factories (both on functional and geographic level)and is evolving in end-to-end and real-time chain planning. Some of the proven benefits are inventory reductions, insight in end to end processes and lead times, one number planning and fully integrated planning and scheduling activities. The challenges of realizing end-to-end visibility come down to organizational fit , end to end processes, and tools enabling full visibility & transparency.
Through case studies presented by Philips Healthcare, DSM and Johnson & Johnson, network participants exchanged ideas on how big organizational changes can be managed successfully . Guidelines were provided for implementations of advanced planning systems that can cope with the required end-to end visibility and fit for each individual life science company. Key learning was that organizational change and tool implementation should always start with visualizing and describing end-to-end processes. These processes are a prerequisite and leading over planning & ERP tools and system features. Furthermore metrics must be installed to manage the change, measure success and maximize the change & optimization potential.
