Advancements in Automation Live from LogiPharma: Leveraging the Latest Digital Innovation
How can you implement advancements in automation, AI and self-driving capabilities to stay ahead of the latest digital trends?
In one of our many, many, many amazing panel discussions, the audience was treated to a blockbuster panel of industry leaders in the pharmaceutical supply chain industry, who spoke in depth on AI, blockchain and automation, and how we can use technology to stay ahead of the latest digital trends. Alongside Arie Moraunx, Senior Director Strategy & Digital Transformation from Johnson & Johnson who starred as moderator, those making up the panel were –
• David Ruiz, Global Director Digital SCM Strategy, MSD
• Veronica Alonso, Senior Global Supply Chain Manager, Takeda
• Piet Buyck, Chief Executive Officer, Garvis
• Adam Bartlett, Senior Director Professional Services, Sourcecamp
• Dr. Niels Kuschinsky, Director Connectivity, Carrier
Firstly, Arie asked Veronica what Takeda are trying to achieve with AI and automation, with the combination of blockchain and automation in particular to drive visibility. Along the theme of blockchain, David spoke to us about the three use cases that MSD has currently in practice (Security, traceability, and APIs). Additionally, the blockchain is providing the industry access to information and data in a standardised and structured format. This then allows AI and ML to be used to drive advanced automation capabilities.
When asked about the key challenge facing the industry when it comes to implementing blockchain, and therefore automation capabilities were, Niels believed that the lack of standardisation is a key challenge.
An interesting point to tie together everything that had been discussed by the panel up until that point was then made by Veronica, who stated that data quality is absolutely essential for any of this to work. With data being the foundation, AI, blockchain, ML and everything in between can only provide actionable insights if the data that is fuelling those insights is easy to read, understand, transfer, and analyse.
Arie then asked Adam how the technologies that had been discussed played a part in his work for Sourcemap. For Adam, collecting and mapping the upstream supply chain is mainly delivering risk mitigation of suppliers. Understanding where, when and why complications arise in your supplier operations is essential for the continual success of the supply chain which, again, underscores the importance of high-quality data.
After this, the panel moved on to discuss AI in particular, with David believing that over the next few years, an interesting dynamic will be how AI helps to reduce barriers for those who are communicating with complicated systems. Piet then echoed those thoughts, stating that AI and Natural Language Processing will greatly help in this area, as users will be able to ask future systems a question, and it will provide a direct, actionable answer in real-time.
When asked if this will become a reality over the coming years, Piet responded by saying – “They are happening now.”
The next topic of discussion was sharing data, traceability, and how the industry can overcome the associated challenges. Adam discussed that for upstream in particular, there has been a reluctance to share data, and whilst things are going in the right direction, this is something they have been working on. Currently, however, the interoperability simply isn’t there, meaning that to get the information needed, the only way is to contact the third party directly.
In a final, but very insightful interaction, David asks Piet how we can reduce the barriers of acceptance when it comes to relying more on the decisions made by machines, and less on experienced colleagues.
I wanted to leave you with Piet’s response, which I think makes for a great wrap-up of what was a thought-provoking, greatly insightful panel discussion: “The future is a combination of man and machine”
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