Global track and trace: The clock is ticking

Serialization is a moving target that will challenge virtually every stakeholder in the pharmaceutical distribution chain.

Serialization is a moving target, an ongoing process, and requires a heavy capital spend. These were just some of the points touched on during a spirited panel discussion at Global Track and Trace in Ringoes, NJ, Oct. 23, 2012.*

With planning for California’s 2015 e-pedigree deadlines top of mind for most supply chain managers of pharmaceutical manufacturers, there was a standing room only crowd of more than 80 manufacturers, distributors, contract packagers, consultants, and industry trade group representatives.

Greg Cathcart of Excellis kicked off the meeting and moderated the panel with three companies that have successfully started the process—representing different-sized companies, some only focused on the U.S., others global, some with huge sales, some modest.

Cathcart showed a slide with a pie divided into the four stages of a serialization project, and asked the panelists where they were on the diagram.

1. Strategy and planning
2. Selecting partners and technology
3. Planning and implementation
4. Enabling the supply chain

Some were further along than others, although all have experienced some success.  All shared the same challenges with capitalization and moving beyond internal execution.

All agreed while the packaging line component was not easy, the data infrastructure was far harder. “We started out focused on the packaging line,” said one participant,  “and quickly discovered the IT angle is much tougher.”

“The intent of any serialization program is to get the packaging lines fully automated,” said one. This change of focus brings with it many changes in equipment, physical plant, software, and controls, etc.  But that is not the heart of serialization—data is.

Another added, “We finally decided as long as they could get us what we wanted and how we wanted it, they really could be left alone to figure it out.”

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