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Digitalization in Pharma: The Key to Unlocking Efficiency, Agility, and Innovation

The pharmaceutical industry has experienced significant changes in recent years, with supply chain disruptions, natural disasters, pandemics and other VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) challenges forcing companies to rethink their strategies. As the world witnessed the unprecedented speed of COVID-19 vaccine development, it became evident that the industry would never be the same. To efficiently manage suppliers and contract partners while accelerating speed to market consistently, safely and profitably, companies are turning to digital transformation in pharma.

This transformation goes beyond merely automating processes; it's about embracing a holistic approach that optimizes outcomes across the pharma value network. By digitally connecting their end-to-end operations, pharma companies can gain powerful new capabilities and the agility needed to produce therapies with greater efficiency and effectiveness in all market conditions.

A vision for the future of pharma involves a fully connected ecosystem where data generated at every location can be accessed, integrated into larger datasets and leveraged for operational improvements. This level of connectivity allows for more effective analysis, monitoring and optimization using Industrial AI and integrated software applications. As a result, pharma companies can improve results at every stage of production, delivering an impact greater than the sum of its parts.

Implementing Digitalization in the Pharmaceutical Industry

The approach to making this vision a reality is outcomes-driven and focused on four key steps:

• Assess the organization’s digital maturity, emphasizing the most significant opportunities for improvement. To successfully implement industrial digital transformation, companies must first evaluate their current digital capabilities, identifying areas with the greatest potential for improvement. This assessment should include a comprehensive analysis of the company's data infrastructure, technology stack and workforce readiness for adopting new digital solutions.
• Digitally transform paper processes to aggregate data for a complete view and eliminate costly manual processes. Replacing paper-based processes with digital solutions not only streamlines operations but also allows for seamless data aggregation and analysis. By leveraging advanced software applications for planning, scheduling and batch records, companies can collect valuable data to inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement efforts.
• Determine cloud strategies early on to support data volume and ease the implementation of advanced digital solutions. Cloud-based solutions offer numerous benefits, such as scalability, flexibility and cost-effectiveness. By adopting a cloud strategy early in the digital transformation in pharma process, companies can ensure they have the necessary infrastructure to support large data volumes and facilitate the integration of advanced digital technologies. Additionally, cloud solutions can help organizations easily implement digital solutions in remote locations with limited IT support.
• Incorporate Industrial AI capabilities into software solutions and IT to integrate workflows and empower industrial systems to operate semi-autonomously, and eventually autonomously. Industrial AI allows companies to harness the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize processes and drive innovation. Integrating AI-driven technologies into software solutions and IT systems enables industrial systems to operate with increasing autonomy, leading to improved patient care and enhanced profitability.

By following these steps, and more, pharma companies can unlock the full potential of Pharma 4.0 and fuel it with the power of Industrial AI to drive greater efficiency, resiliency, quality and performance.

The Value Gained from Digitalization in Pharma

The value gained from digital transformation in pharma can be seen in multiple areas:

•  Faster time to market: Companies benefit from a more efficient production cycle, reduced risks and better management of processes and complexities. Digital workflows powered by Industrial AI across planning, scheduling, production and asset management functions lead to streamlined operations and shorter production cycles.
• Security of supply and smart-sourcing agility: Pharma companies gain a widespread view of their entire network, enabling them to proactively spot potential supply problems and adjust accordingly. This level of visibility allows organizations to make data-driven decisions on supplier capacity, quality and delivery, ensuring a secure and agile pharma supply chain.
• Quality assurance and compliance confidence: By using Quality by Design (QbD) principles and process analytics, manufacturers can monitor critical quality and performance attributes to ensure final product quality within a compliant environment. Industrial digital transformation allows for more effective quality control and compliance management throughout the production process. QbD principals can be enabled with greater ease by implementing PAT (Process Analytical Technology). PAT in the pharmaceutical industry allows full visibility into the behavior of the critical process parameters and their effect on the critical quality attributes.
• Outcomes-driven decision-making: With access to comprehensive data, manufacturers can make informed decisions by modeling outcomes against different scenarios that consider asset utilization, changing supply and demand, product line pricing and other factors affecting quality, profitability, delivery and performance. This agility enables pharma manufacturers to optimize their facilities daily, maximizing their financial impact.
• Improved reliability: Digitalization in pharma makes processes like predictive maintenance possible. Predictive maintenance utilizes prescriptive analytics, founded on Industrial AI technology, to monitor equipment performance and anticipate breakdowns. This enables companies to maximize uptime by performing maintenance only when necessary and in a timely, efficient manner.

While the pharmaceutical industry has traditionally lagged behind other sectors in adopting industrial digital transformation, the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance of accelerating digitalization to ensure operational excellence in the years ahead. AspenTech offers pharma companies a clear path forward to achieve new levels of efficiency, agility and innovation across all market conditions.

Why AspenTech?

AspenTech is a leading software partner specializing in optimizing asset performance and asset lifecycle. Our solutions excel in intricate industrial settings where streamlining the asset design, operation and maintenance lifecycle is crucial. By fusing our extensive process modeling know-how with machine learning technology, AspenTech has developed a purpose-built software platform that automates knowledge work, fostering a sustainable competitive edge with substantial returns throughout the asset lifecycle. Consequently, organizations in asset-intensive sectors can boost uptime and push the boundaries of performance, operating their assets with increased safety, eco-friendliness, longevity and speed.

FAQs

How does digital transformation in pharma benefit the industry?

Digitalization in pharma enables companies to improve efficiency, agility and innovation by leveraging data, automation and AI-driven technologies. This results in faster time to market, better decision making, and improved supply chain management in the pharmaceutical industry.

What is Industrial AI and how does it impact pharma?

Industrial AI is the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in industrial settings to optimize processes, drive innovation and improve overall performance. In pharma, Industrial AI can help companies analyze and optimize their operations, resulting in increased efficiency, quality and profitability.

What are the steps to achieve a successful digital transformation in pharma?

The four key steps include assessing the organization's digital maturity, digitally transforming paper processes, determining cloud strategies early on and incorporating Industrial AI capabilities into software solutions and IT systems.

How can pharma companies ensure data security during their industrial digital transformation journey?

Data security should be a priority during the digital transformation journey, with data governance, access and security protocols in place. Companies should work with trusted technology partners and implement robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive information. Ensuring data privacy and compliance with relevant regulations is also essential to maintaining a secure digital environment.