Reducing the variability of compound management delivery using visual management systems

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Operations Management
• Supply Chain Management

Background:

• Globalization and externalization of pharmaceutical R&D necessitate robust compound management (CM) capabilities.
• Cross-continent supply chains and increased demands require enhanced tracking and visibility of compound orders.
• Efficient CM is crucial for meeting global project timelines and customer delivery expectations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and integrate a visual management system into compound management processes.
• To improve the robustness and efficiency of CM workflows supporting global R&D.
• To reduce variability and end-to-end cycle times in order processing.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a simple, low-cost visual management system for tracking solid processing and solubilization orders.
• Integration of the system into existing CM processes at AstraZeneca, Alderley Park UK.
• Empowering delivery teams to own and operate the visual tracking system.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in order processing speed and variability were observed.
• The percentage of orders processed within 24 hours increased from 81.5% to 92.5%.
• Average processing times decreased by 50% for solid dispense orders and 17.5% for solubilization orders.

Conclusions:

• Visual management systems offer a quick, adaptable, and effective solution for enhancing pharmaceutical compound management.
• The implemented system successfully supported AstraZeneca's global R&D strategy by improving CM efficiency.
• Reduced cycle times and increased on-time processing demonstrate the value of visual tracking in complex supply chains.