UPS develops Supply Chain Technology to meet US Drug Industry's needs

In efforts to better synchronize and divide information for serialized pharmaceuticals, UPS has announced that they will be applying a new technology to their efforts in the US drug supply chain.

This effort is in response to the requirements put on US pharmaceutical companies, laid out in the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). “The law requires implementation—over a 10-year period—of serialization, enhanced traceability, and data reporting to help secure the drug supply chain and increase consumer safety” (healthcarepackaging.com 2017)

Some of the KPI’s that the US Government hopes to see organizations follow through on are: the documentation and authentication of drug product transactions. The DSCSA will require restructuring of multiple verticals of the pharmaceutical industry in the US, including pre-production, manufacturers, distributors, re-packagers, wholesale retailers, logistics parties and many more.

The law states that by Nov 27, 2017, no wholesaler of pharmaceuticals in the US can lawfully sell drugs that have not been coded/labeled with a serial number. While this law is being enforced to better traceability and eliminate disingenuous activities that can potentially arise in the pharmaceutical industry, it will create a massive shift in modes-of-operating for all drug supply chain actors.

UPS has developed a strategy and technology to tailor supply chain activities to the follow the guidelines marked out by the DSCSA. It will combine a blend of hardware and software within their existing WMS (warehouse management system).

“With the technology, the company says stakeholders across the board will have streamlined, standardized visibility into pharmaceutical shipments. When a customer makes an inquiry, the technology can tell when the shipment came in, when packages went out, what serial numbers made up that order, and more” (healthcarepackaging 2017).

Though it will take a massive overhaul, this addition of stakeholder visibility and traceability to the drug supply chain in the US will create a more quality experience; creating shared value for all parties involved. 

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