Abbott

The Challenge:

• Delivery of a standard WMS solution to meet the specific requirements of the Distribution Centre (DC)
• Delivering a validatable solution that meets all the GxP regulatory demands
• Post delivery premium support service

Introduction

As part of a global initiative Abbott wanted to reengineer its worldwide supply chain. Central to this was the building of a new state of the art Distribution Centre (DC) in Breda, The Netherlands, providing direct distribution to end customers in the UK and Northern/Central Europe, and distribution to other regional hubs elsewhere.

This DC was to be a state of the art facility, able to meet the exacting demands of the pharmaceutical regulators and also to provide an opportunity to allow Abbot to truly optimise its supply chain.

Why Dematic?

Dematic, as experts in both the Healthcare and Life Sciences sector and supply chain systems were initially brought on board to provide consultancy on the overall system architecture and IT Project Management to address gaps in Abbott’s own inhouse capabilities.

However as the project progressed and issues occurred with the original solution providers, the scope of Dematic’s involvement was broadened, with DAI, a Dematic company delivering the Matflo Health variant from their Matflo supply chain product suite.

Challenges

Since the Breda site is being used to distribute pharmaceutical products, it needs to comply with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) regulations. Matflo Health contains all the functionality needed for this.

In addition extensive testing, over and above that which would normally be required for a standard Matflo deployment, was performed, to meet the extra validation requirements as demanded by Abbott’s own procedures and the external regulators.

Solution

Dematic deployed Matflo Health onto the site, integrating downwards into the material handling equipment, and upwards, through a messaging hub, also implemented by Dematic. Using IBM Websphere messaging hub technology, Matflo was integrated into a Transport Management System and the Abbott affiliate Order Management Systems, based on both SAP and BPCS ERP platforms.

Matflo Health meets the GxP regulatory requirements through a combination of specific functionality, quality processes and the subsequent management of information collected during site operation. It provides full lot management, support for Cold Chain operations, secure handling of controlled drugs, returns management and quality processes. It also provides all the security and integrity features needed for compliance with 21CFR Part 11.

The Result

The successful delivery of one of the most advanced DC operations of its kind.

The site covers an area of 18,000 m² and has a storage capacity of 28,000 pallets. Matflo Health provides a highly effective tool for controlling site operations. It plans, manages and controls the storage, picking, packing and despatch of pallets, boxes and units, mainly through automation, of a full range of Pharmaceutical and nutritional products, from ambient, chilled and frozen temperature zones, to deliver an efficient and high quality site operation.