Schiphol Cargo eBook provides guidance for pharma logistics managers

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has produced a pharma e-book which features interviews with seven experts in the pharma and pharma logistics sectors.
Vision Pharma Logistics 2020: Insights and practical advice is published by Schiphol Cargo – the European airport’s dedicated cargo department.
One of the main conclusions in the book is that pharma logistics professionals who succeed in transforming their supply chain will have a major impact on their organisation’s success.
“In fact, those who innovate best will position themselves to transform logistics from a cost centre to a true source of competitive advantage.”
Those interviewed were Rinus Govers, supply chain manager at uniQure; Judith Schut, supply chain manager EMEA at Konica Minolta Medical; René Tjong Tjin Tai, chief executive at Dyzle; Nina Heinz, global head of network & quality at LifeConEx/DHL Global Forwarding; Ryan Viegas, vp supply chain and procurement at Watson Pharma (Actavis); Renate de Walle, director product market group pharmaceutical logistics, Air France, KLM & Martinair; and Antoinette van Kempen, lead auditor at SGS Netherlands.
Said an airport spokesman: “Recognising the fast-changing conditions and regulations affecting pharmaceutical manufacturers when shipping their product globally, the eBook sets out to open pharma logistics managers’ eyes to the opportunities, warn them about the potential pitfalls of international transportation, and provide expert advice on engineering their supply chains up to 2020.”
Schiphol, an important European gateway for pharma traffic, launched its Pharma and Life science Logistics Steering Group in 2012, which brought representatives of pharma manufacturers together with its own logistics community, government and regulatory bodies for the sharing of problems and solutions.
Schiphol Cargo’s business development director, and pharma logistics expert, Bart Pouwels, said: “Today’s pharma logistics professionals face a market in the midst of major change and innovation.
“Pharma supply chains have grown highly complex due to multiple factors, including market expansion on both the supply and demand sides, and more stringent product quality requirements.”