Pharmaceuticals supply chains to get PWC and Manugistics aid

Enterprise profit optimisation (EPO) and supply chain software firm Manugistics and PricewaterhouseCoopers are now allying to provide integrated systems specifically for the pharmaceutical industry. The development was announced at Manugistics’ recent European user conference in Geneva, and the two expect their combined offerings to “deliver rapid strategic results for pharmaceutical clients”. With pharma being renowned for sophisticated and complex supply chains, the expectation is reduced inventory and improved working capital effectiveness. Specifically, it appears the hope is that Manugistics’ 20 years worth of supply chain software for the pharmaceutical industry will be helped by PWC’s strategic change and process improvement experience. The pair say they will facilitate the implementation of fully integrated supply chain systems that can manage complex channel networks, “a requirement which has previously challenged standard ERP systems.” With EPO, however, there should be more. Manugistics says there’s a good opportunity for strong top-line growth using its profit and revenue optimisation IT. Tim Moylan, European Director of Life Sciences at Manugistics says: “The pressures on supply chains to deliver effectively are increasing and will continue to do so as we see the results of increased productivity in drug discovery, leading to increased numbers of product launches. “This will be combined with greater supply chain complexity; the numbers of products to be managed will increase as we see higher degrees of customised medicine. Legacy supply chain processes and systems will be unable to respond effectively and thus we are creating these new planning solutions.” Jim McKiernan, PWC’s pharma industry senior partner, adds: “In the past the pharmaceutical industry has been slow to adopt state-of-the-art management processes in manufacturing and supply chain areas, preferring to focus on drug discovery and marketing. [But] the realities of an e-enabled world are driving a much faster pace of change in how pharmaceutical supply chains are being managed.”