Cover Story
Upon completion of the airline sale, employees of TNT
Airways and Pan Air Líneas
Aéreas will become part of
ASL Aviation Group. ASL Aviation Group will respect the
employees’ current terms and
conditions of employment and
intends to maintain the TNT
Airways headquarters in Liège.
TNT’s Liège hub (Eurohub) is not
part of the airlines sale. It will be
maintained as a significant operation for the intended FedExTNT combination going forward.
ASL Aviation Group is an established and profitable aviation
group, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, providing aviation
services globally with seven
Air Operators Certificates in
Europe, Africa and Asia, two
support services companies
and various leasing entities. It
currently owns and operates a
fleet of +/-100 aircraft for freight
and
passenger
transport.
ASL Aviation Group had revenues of €382 million in 2015.
Details of the transaction will
not be disclosed.
Cover Story
FLEXIBILITY CAN CURE PHARMACEUTICAL
LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES
Author: Michiel Veenman, Director Solution
Management, Pharmaceutical Industry, Swisslog
A
s the quote goes, “The future isn’t what it used to be.”
That phrase certainly holds true for the pharmaceutical industry today. From production to distribution, new
rules and regulations are redefining manufacturing and
distribution processes. To meet new and future requirements, warehouse distribution centers face added layers of complexity, increasing costs and slowing throughput.
Specific challenges affecting the industry include tracking
and tracing each drug throughout production and distribution,
producing drugs in smaller batches, and controlling the temperature of many new ingredients and medications throughout the supply chain. In light of these requirements, how can
logistics managers maintain efficiency? How can they adjust quickly to the unforeseen requirements of tomorrow?
Fortunately, major improvements in the planning and engineering of automated systems can reduce costs and minimize risks. Advanced software systems backed by solid
logistical planning can address the challenges head-on.
Understand the Challenges
Before addressing solutions, let’s take a closer look at the challenges. First, regulations such as Drug Supply Chain Security
Act in the United States require a new standard for tracking and
tracing products. Each consumer package of medication will
have a unique serial number and a 2D code representing that
serial number. This is a system enforced by the government
to stop counterfeiting and improve control of the entire supply
chain.
February 2016
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