Pharmaceutical supply chain transformation through application of the Lean principle: A literature review

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to review the previous literature on the topic contained in the title in order to identify gaps in the existing research relating to lean supply chain-related issues within the pharmaceutical industry since limited attention has been devoted to this sector. Design/methodology/approach: This study presents a systematic literature review that proposes an analysis and classification of the previous literature as falling within one of four categories, namely; the supply chain area, research approach, research objective, and lean supply chain elements.Findings: The results of this study indicate that most attention was focused on manufacturing, while upstream suppliers, downstream activities and the entire supply chain process have received comparatively scant consideration. Similarly, the issues of information technology management, supplier management, customer relations, and logistics management as well as practitioner involvement represent inadequately developed topics. Future research should address these omissions, in addition to the integration of quality compliance and digital innovation as they relate to pharma 4.0.Practical implications: This article serves as a guide to acquiring sufficient knowledge of the pharmaceutical supply chain prior to implementing lean supply chain management. Moreover, it is anticipated that the research it contains will contribute to eradicating the knowledge gap by expanding the existing limited body of literature on the adoption of lean approach in the PSC.Originality/value: This study is one of a limited number of literature analyses potentially helpful in developing a roadmap of lean principle application to the pharmaceutical supply chain

Transportation performance improvement through lean thinking implementation

“…Garza-Reyes et al (2019) used internet-based tools to improve communication and enhance the control of stretches, thus achieving better integration between the vehicles and the health-care provider. However, despite the evolution of the lean concept in the transportation sector (Argiyantari et al , 2020), this study found that prior studies have failed to examine the lean application’s effect on transportation in the pharmaceutical industry.…”

“…Thus, studies dedicated to the pharmaceutical industry are needed (Alkhalidi and Abdallah, 2018). In line with the aforementioned statement, Argiyantari et al (2020) argued that specifically, research into the pharmaceutical industry enables to validate the findings that fit with industry characteristics.…”

“…In the meantime, logistics (Tripathi et al , 2019) and transportation (Alicke and Lösch, 2016; Argiyantari et al , 2020) within pharmaceutical supply chains are slow to adopt lean thinking. The underlying reason is that the discussion on the pharmaceutical supply chain focuses on manufacturing activities related to productivity improvement and cost efficiency (Argiyantari et al , 2020). For example, Wan Ibrahim et al (2017) explored the success factors of lean manufacturing implementation in a Malaysian pharmaceutical company, Garza-Reyes et al (2018a) reviewed the readiness of pharmaceutical manufacturing in implementing lean initiatives and Alkhalidi and Abdallah (2018) studied the implementation of lean manufacturing processes to improve operational excellence.…”

“…To advance the study of lean thinking in transportation, Villarreal et al (2016) proposed that future research explore the challenges and define the success factors of its implementation. Meanwhile, Argiyantari et al (2020) suggested the need to conduct more studies of transportation in pharmaceutical supply chains using lean principles to improve operational performance, as this strategic area has been neglected.…”

Emvolio - A battery operated portable refrigerator preserves biochemical and haematological integrity of biological samples in preclinical studies

“…Emvolio can not only fill the gap of the lack of technology access in the rural area, but also can help the healthcare workers to get accurate sample data with minimum damage. Pharma-logistics, as well as academia, have suffered from a lack of reliable last-mile transport 25 . So, technical support is required to aid the healthcare sector in coping with the storage and transportation facility of biologicals.…”