Summary of Supply Chains in the Pharma Industry | With Supply Chain Guru Govind Jaju | TBCY

Video Summary

In the video titled "Supply Chains in the Pharma Industry," host Ashutosh Garg interviews supply chain expert Govind K. Jaju, who discusses various challenges and strategies in the pharmaceutical supply chain. The main points covered include:

Key Financial Strategies and Market Analyses

Reverse Supply Chain: The importance of managing products that are expired or near expiry, which involves retrieving these items from a vast network of retailers and disposing of them properly.
Unique Challenges in Pharma Supply Chain:
- Quality Focus: Ensuring the quality of pharmaceuticals throughout the supply chain, including proper storage conditions.
- Complexity: Managing a vast number of products with low-cost packs, which complicates demand forecasting and inventory management.
- Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to the laws of different countries, which requires multiple product packs and approvals.
- Patent Management: The need to quickly enter markets after patents expire, requiring precise logistical coordination.

Methodologies and Strategies

Reducing Dependency on Imports: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the risks of relying heavily on foreign suppliers, particularly China for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). A shift towards local manufacturing is encouraged.
Improving Cold Chain Logistics: Ensuring effective storage and transportation of temperature-sensitive products, such as vaccines, to remote areas.
Technology Integration:
- ERP Systems: The necessity of integrated platforms for managing supply chain operations, including forecasting and distribution.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Utilizing AI for automating tasks, enhancing data analysis for demand forecasting, and optimizing production scheduling.
- Robotics: Implementing robotics in warehouses to improve efficiency in picking and inventory management.
- Drones: Exploring the potential of Drones for last-mile delivery, which is currently the most expensive and inefficient part of the supply chain.

Government Role

The government plays a crucial role in enhancing supply chain efficiency through infrastructure improvements and ensuring drug availability during critical situations, such as pandemics.

Presenters/Sources

Host: Ashutosh Garg
Guest: Govind K. Jaju, Former Global Supply Chain Head of Ranbaxy and Founding Partner of Suingora Consulting LLP.

Notable Quotes

— 05:48 — « This reverse supply chain is probably unique only to the pharma industry, isn't it? »

— 06:40 — « We need to reduce our dependency specifically on China. »

— 17:37 — « Artificial Intelligence does two things: it automates mundane tasks and speeds up data analysis. »

— 22:58 — « In critical situations, it is also the responsibility of the government to ensure that the products are available. »

— 26:08 — « You almost made the supply chain function into a profit center because you are contributing large amounts of profit to the company which never used to be the case. »