Equipment Connectivity for Factory Digital Transformation
Workplaces in the pharmaceutical supply chain are evolving, and so are the technical solutions and data usage. Many production facilities have been operating for decades, with machines that no longer meet the criteria for a modern workplace. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, the lack of continuous, detailed data collection limits progress, preventing the use of modern technologies and AI.
This has led to a growing need for Modernization Projects to upgrade equipment, connect machines to advanced technologies, and develop methods that leverage enhanced data flow to optimize production processes. This case study explores the first step in these transformation efforts: upgrading and connecting equipment to create a solid foundation for digital transformation in the pharma supply chain.
Industry
Pharmaceuticals
Project
Equipment Connectivity for Factory Digital Transformation
Client
A leading global biopharmaceutical
company
Objective
To upgrade and connect equipment in pharmaceutical supply chains as the foundation for implementing modern technologies, improving data flow, and enhancing operational efficiency
Challenges
Stakeholder alignment: Coordination required between Engineering, IT, MS&T, Finance, and teams developing new use cases for the Digital Transformation project.
Production schedule integration: Equipment upgrades require machine downtime and alignment with production teams, demanding flexibility for last-minute changes.
Technology variety: Different decades of machines and technologies across sites require adaptability from technical owners and vendors to address setbacks.
Standardization: A consistent global implementation method is necessary for tracking progress, despite potential cultural objections from local teams. Supply Chain Wizard developed an operating model to manage risks effectively.
Production schedule integration: Equipment upgrades require machine downtime and alignment with production teams, demanding flexibility for last-minute changes.
Technology variety: Different decades of machines and technologies across sites require adaptability from technical owners and vendors to address setbacks.
Standardization: A consistent global implementation method is necessary for tracking progress, despite potential cultural objections from local teams. Supply Chain Wizard developed an operating model to manage risks effectively.
Approach
Phase 1 - Global Scope Preparation: Define expectations from global stakeholders, considering budget, site conditions, and goals, then create a roadmap with timelines and site inclusions.
Phase 2 - Site Scope Preparation: Align site strategies with global and local leadership, create a detailed roadmap, and determine data requirements and vendor updates for machine connectivity.
Phase 3 - Standard Tools & Budget Tracking: Develop standardized project plans, budget tracking tools, and automated reporting for progress tracking across sites.
Phase 4 - Site and Stakeholder Oversight: Hold weekly meetings with site and global teams to monitor progress, address challenges, and ensure communication for project updates.
Phase 5 - Measure & Report Success: Continuously track project health using reporting tools and prepare success reports after each implementation wave.
Phase 2 - Site Scope Preparation: Align site strategies with global and local leadership, create a detailed roadmap, and determine data requirements and vendor updates for machine connectivity.
Phase 3 - Standard Tools & Budget Tracking: Develop standardized project plans, budget tracking tools, and automated reporting for progress tracking across sites.
Phase 4 - Site and Stakeholder Oversight: Hold weekly meetings with site and global teams to monitor progress, address challenges, and ensure communication for project updates.
Phase 5 - Measure & Report Success: Continuously track project health using reporting tools and prepare success reports after each implementation wave.
Added Value
- Improving the range of data captured by equipments
- Standardized data and batch reports from all equipments and production sites
- Higher data integrity and accuracy throughout the supply chain
- Improving production efficiency resulting from continuous data flow to enable methods for tracking errors and performance
- Modernizing the old equipments in all sites to meet the connectivity criteria
- Reduction on manual work through the improved processes and automated information flow
- Standardized data and batch reports from all equipments and production sites
- Higher data integrity and accuracy throughout the supply chain
- Improving production efficiency resulting from continuous data flow to enable methods for tracking errors and performance
- Modernizing the old equipments in all sites to meet the connectivity criteria
- Reduction on manual work through the improved processes and automated information flow
Supply Chain Wizard is committed to adding value to our clients’ pharmaceutical supply chain operations, ensuring their success is our success. Equipment connectivity is key to enabling new technologies that enhance operational efficiency.
Through standardization, improved error tracking, and enhanced performance monitoring, significant improvements in production performance are achieved, reducing the cost per unit across all factories. This positive impact continues post-project, with ongoing improvements driven by additional data and the development of new methods each year.
