Corporate Magazine 2012 - Boehringer Ingelheim

production networkperspectives for quality in operationsVALUE AND DISTRIBUTION CHAIN[ chemical synthesis ] [ pharmaceutical production ] [ distribution ]startingmaterialfinalapitablet/capsulepackagingtransportationdistributionmarket place/customerquality assurance agreement in whichwe stipulate our expectations regardingthe supply chain transparency of CMOs,supplier management standards andmeasures to safeguard against counterfeiting.CMO approval processAn additional Boehringer Ingelheimmonitoring function for securing continuousregulatory, legal and financialcompliance for the 3PM network is theCMO approval process. The process isused for every CMO that is to join andincludes, for example, qualification auditson site and thorough and detailedassessment of the supply chain.An example of a special SCI initiativethat has already been implemented atone of our most important CMOs isbased on the serialising and aggregationrequirements recently issued bythe Chinese authorities. A tailor-madeIT solution, as well as alterations to theCMO’s packaging system, delivers anunambiguous identification numberfor every packaging unit that is suppliedto the Chinese market and enablesinspection for counterfeiting.External partners, such as customs orother authorities, can also take part inthe extensive investigations of divergencesthat lead to impairment of supplychain integrity. This allows improvementat the weak points in theprocess chain and criminal offences canbe selectively pursued. Only throughtransparency in communication andthe exchange of best practices with internaland external stakeholders is itpossible to create an environment for amore secure supply of medicines.SAFE MEDICINES IN FOCUSAuthorities worldwide regularlyissue updates to their regulations.Currently, the secure supply ofmedicines is centre stage. Frompharmaceutical manufacturers,the authorities demand that theyknow and control the productsthat pass through their supplychains in order to ensure patientsafety.Boehringer Ingelheim is also improvingthe integrity of its supplychain. The system embraces allprocesses that are required for ensuringsupply chain integrity, suchas global supplier management,relevant internal and external productionprocesses, global salesmanagement, protection againstcounterfeiting, serialisation andsupply chain risk managementand transparency.Secure supply chains guaranteed 115