For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Name: Joel Glende
Title: Chairperson, Logistics and Transportation Steering Committee
Phone: + 1- 224-308-7155
Email address: joel.glende@comcast.net
Technologies Drive
Product Protection, Agility, and Intelligence in Life Sciences Logistics
BSMA Conference Proceedings
Foster City, November 15, 2018 - Eminent executives of logistics addressed how emerging technologies were making the supply chain more agile, accountable and intelligent while ensuring product quality under adverse conditions at the Conference of the Bio Supply Management Alliance (BSMA) held on the 11th of October in Foster City (CA). The twin areas of focus were: 1. Product protection and innovation in temperature-controlled distribution, and 2. Software Systems required to manage the overall transportation. 
Joel Glende, CEO of P aladin Logistics Consulting and a 40-year veteran of biopharma, led the first forum consisting of (from left to right) Rich Kilmer, CEO, CargoSense; Robin Hooker, Director, Global Healthcare Market Strategy, UPS; Larry Tillman, Business Strategic Account Manager, SkyCell North America; Don Walles , Vice President, Solution Marketing, TraceLink ; and Bobbie McClain, Strategic Account Manager, Envirotainer. 
Highlights of their findings in Life Sciences were the following:

Current Challenges of Logistics & Transportation:
  • High expectations in seamless execution on a daily basis – on time delivery at lower costs.
  • Increased need for visibility through the entire supply chain, especially “Last-Mile” data telemetry.
  • Serialization and Track & Trace regulations mandating increased harmonization across the entire chain of custody from drug manufacturing to patient.
Cost and Service Improvements Being Measured
  • More simplified Temperature Management available in carriers with lower cost.
  • Better digital monitoring options which integrate existing systems and provide better visibility in near real-time and proactive interception of potential excursions.
  • Potential to integrate, more than just temperature, will tantalize shippers into investing in technology that allows for completely digitized Logistics functions.
Necessity to Adopt Advanced Technologies in Transportation:
  • Pressures and expectations from the Amazon Effect.
  • Increasingly complex requirements for product protection and time-sensitive needs.
  • More data needs in monitoring between shippers and their service providers requires integration across a multitude of ERP, Customs & Trade, and Logistics systems to provide end-to-end visibility and complete digital transactions.
Digitization of Logistics is Imperative
  • Cloud-based solutions for a company as well as its trading partners will provide data visibility, reliability and intelligence for real-time decision making.
  • Companies are considering alliances to share data across platforms to improve industry-wide best practices and avoid pitfalls.
  • Potential to share non-proprietary data to understand common shipment level detail, such as tarmac exposure risks.
Jim Peyton
Dana Regan
Joel Glende
The 2 nd panel consisting of Jim Peyton , Director, Global Supply Chain, Gilead Sciences ; Dana Regan , Vice President, Business Development, TranzAct ; and Joel Glende, CEO and Founder, Paladin Logistics Consulting , examined the " Dynamics Associated with Transportation Management Systems (TMS)”
Highlights of the deliberations were the following:

Companies Adopt TMS to Improve Visibility & Efficiency
  • TMS optimizes Logistics and Transportation.
  • Evaluation of shipping lanes and data feeds leads to optimization and standardization for supplier bids.
  • SaaS solutions are available for resource-constrained companies.
Hybrid Approach to TMS: SaaS, Managed or Hybrid Services
  • SaaS—Software as a Service—Cloud based and integration with company ERP:
  • Many use this so they can utilize in house available support areas to impact change and management of day-to-day dynamics. Also important when the shipper is managing supplier performance and bids.
  • Managed Service—Allows service provider to interface carriers:
  • Outsourced services are selected when there is a desire to enable suppliers to manage carrier selection and performance.
  • Hybrid for Selected Needs or Clients:
  • Relevant for client who wants to have some functions in house, such as high value customers or key DCs.
Business Cases Confirming Benefits of TMS
  • Going through assessment itself illuminates current state of processes
  • Time is well spent as many unknown legacy practices are found
  • ID’s opportunities for improved efficiencies in operations
  • Each new discovery allows for improvement areas
  • Improves accuracy and location of costs and supplier detail
  • Known location and formatting of an ongoing database of performance metrics and costs that correlate specific to services rendered.
  • Allows for better contract management and clarity in services
  • Service Agreements have more specific definition to the business practices implemented in the TMS.
  • Allows for visibility of performance metrics and format for bids
  • Incorporation of the KPIs with the TMS function sets realistic and stretch goals for the supplier to articulate with data versus Quarterly “dog and pony shows”.
  • Reduction of Freight spend is realized
  • Real costs are much more fully understood by utilizing the dynamic features of an integrated TMS.

The consensus of the attendees was that practical solutions had been presented to transform the age-old functions of logistics and transportation. In addition, it was agreed to have BSMA’s Steering Committee for Logistics & Transportation to address the following issues.
  • How best to share shipping lane data that would aid the industry in determining supply chain weak links.
  • Benchmarking process to determine company readiness for a TMS system.
  • Best Practices and Gaps in BioPharma Temperature Management
  • Best in Class Technology utilization in Life Sciences Product Protection
  • Total Cost of Ownership considerations for Temperature Sensitive Shipments
  • Data Harmonization Opportunities and Challenges in Logistics Systems  
About BSMA
BSMA - Driving Innovation in the Life Sciences Supply Chain

Since its inception in 2007, BSMA is a global organization that fosters Innovation and Adoption of disruptive technologies within the end-to-end supply chain of the Life Sciences industry. With offices in California (USA), Brussels (Belgium) and Mumbai (India), BSMA promotes collaboration and networking between professionals of the biotech, pharmaceutical, academic and medical diagnostics enterprises. The Alliance partners with industry, academia, foundations, suppliers, technology enablers, research institutions, trade organizations and the government to improve productivity, quality, product and service integrity, risk mitigation, managerial talent development and patient care globally. It is also the home of start-up companies engaged in business development and scale up.     
CONTACT:   Devendra Mishra