UPS Shares Insight on Pharma Supply Chain Trends

Q: Where is the greatest demand for your cold chain services?

A: UPS sees the greatest demand for our cold chain transportation services in Europe and the U.S., which are the two largest export markets for healthcare. Since our UPS Temperature True services launched in 2011, we have experienced a significant increase in demand from leading biotech, pharma and medical device manufacturers alike. Regulatory complexity and increased compliance pressures are driving demand for our services, not only in the refrigerated (2°-8°C) range, but also in the historically less regulated controlled room temperature (CRT) category.

Q: Which region is growing fastest?

A: From an export perspective, Europe and the U.S. are not only our largest regions, but they are also experiencing the highest growth in export tonnage. With imports, we are seeing significant growth in shipments moving into emerging markets such in Latin America (Brazil, Chile, Panama, Ecuador), Asia Pacific (China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore), India and the Middle East (particularly Saudi Arabia). These emerging markets represent the largest growth import regions for our cold chain services.

This growth is also in line with cold chain market trend predictions for greater adoption of cold chain products in developing markets.
Q: What should shippers expect when seeking a capable forwarder?

A: There are several capabilities and established best practices that shippers should look for when seeking a capable forwarder:

• Healthcare companies should seek a forwarder with cold chain processes built on a reliable quality-system to help them and shippers stay compliant and to protect product integrity.

• A global network to support international expansion initiatives via a centralized global solution.

• A forwarder with a versatile, multi-modal portfolio to meet a shipper’s specific cost, protection and timing needs: Transportation and brokerage, pallets and packages, ambient and cold chain.

• Companies that will ultimately win in the new healthcare marketplace will view their supply chains as strategic areas for innovation and business growth. Trends such as industry collaboration and convergence mean that supply chains must become inter-connected. The old linear model is out. Flexible logistics networks are in.

• Healthcare companies need to build agile logistics networks that give them the ability to quickly accommodate different types of products; leverage new distribution channels to reach new customers in new and existing markets; and, prioritize risk management to ensure business continuity in a growing global marketplace.

• Companies who are market leaders in efficiency are becoming more innovative in how they leverage partnerships and new distribution models to enter new and emerging markets and serve new customer bases. They are taking advantage of existing third-party assets such as multi-client distribution centers and external regulatory expertise.

• There are business and financial risks of not being agile. Companies that build true logistics networks will gain the agility and efficiency to adjust their supply chain strategy with their evolving business needs and goals. This will open the door to new innovations and global opportunities.

Q: How does UPS differentiate itself in the marketplace with cold chain transportation?

A: For pharmaceutical and life sciences manufacturers shipping temperature-sensitive products, UPS Temperature True® solutions help minimize temperature excursions through rigorous quality management, innovative solutions, problem-solving expertise and effective monitoring.

Our value differentiators for UPS Temperature True are:

• Our engineered quality with rigorous operational controls and documented procedures:

• Our highly engineered quality relies on a global MOP, SOPs per location and customer-specific instructions outlining procedures for operators at each shipment touch point.

• Staff are trained on all processes before the first customer shipment is accepted. In fact, more than 2,200 UPS employees have been trained on Temperature True® procedures, with annual re-certifications required.

• Innovative and customized solutions:

• Our team of dedicated healthcare, cold chain, supply chain and freight forwarding experts build custom solutions that streamline supply chain processes and meet our customers’ unique needs.

• Effective shipment monitoring via global healthcare control towers:

• Experienced agents monitor critical transit milestones for all UPS Temperature True® global shipments, proactively looking for shipments needing attention, and intervening as needed per pre-determined contingency plans.

• Cost-effective packaging solutions that fit UPS’s transportation network:

• UPS evaluates package solutions based on product needs and operational efficiency.

• Vendor-neutral, unbiased solutions based on total costs, including transportation, package components and operation.

• UPS Temperature True® Packaging features global package experts and suppliers located in North America, Europe and APAC regions.

Q: What makes UPS Temperature True® services so special?
A: UPS combines top-tier forwarding capabilities with the knowledge of healthcare-dedicated, in-house experts to provide the right solution for our customers’ cold chain needs.

• We have 116 healthcare-dedicated, quality assurance experts in North America, South America, Europe and Asia to oversee quality systems and all documented processes, operational training, vendor management and audit support to enable compliance with regulatory requirements.

• UPS works with qualified packaging suppliers who provide high-quality packaging. Our extensive global packaging portfolio includes options to cover all temperature ranges, sizes and both passive and active systems.

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