Thanks to Claire Swedberg writing for RFID Journal, we’re able to get a great, in-depth overview of the developing pharmaceutical supply chain model that is part of the GS1 Healthcare US 2015 Readiness Program.  It has been a big effort involving many people and the results so far should be of interest to a wide range of professionals in the pharmaceutical industry. Ms. Swedberg writes:

Since January 2010, a group of 65 individuals representing 50 companies have been helping to craft a simulated supply chain that runs on software commonly used by businesses for Six Sigma processes, to improve efficiency. With the software, a user can map out a supply chain and send items with unique ID numbers, either on RFID tags or on 2-D bar codes. The program aims to develop a model for anyone in the pharmaceutical industry who is responsible for IT, logistics or packaging, as well as manufacturers, retail pharmacies and wholesalers. The model has been developed to simulate a typical forward-moving supply chain, and the group will now further refine it to allow for exceptions and scenarios involving product recalls and returns.

The three-page article is of interest not only for its presentation of what the model can currently do, but for its discussion of how the group plans to evolve the model even further to meet special pharmaceutical supply chain possibilities or unique needs. The piece, entitled ‘GS1 Group Completes Early Phase of E-Pedigree Model,’ may be seen here.