Pharmaceutical Outsourcing Q2 2024 - 9

SUPPLY CHAIN
SECTION TITLE
Six Best Methods for the
Next Decade
1. Move from passive single-use
(SU) shipper to passive
reusable (RU) shipper or
active RU shipper.
Benefits: Cost savings - RU shippers lower
container costs over time and produce
a significant
reduction in the number of
shippers purchased per year as opposed
to the SU shipper. Part of the decision
analysis for the RU shippers is the cost of
recovery. Today, with the wide range of
improvements, the RU shippers generate
adequate savings and improvements to
offset the cost of recovery. For example,
using an annual shipping forecast of 12,000
shipments, 12,000 SU shippers would be
purchased, conditioned, and disposed of per
year. For an RU shipper with a 5-year lifespan,
only 4,000 RU shippers would be purchased,
used, and disposed of over five years versus
60,000 SU shippers over five years.
Quality: RU shippers are more robust, have
longer qualified shipping duration times,
and operate with very low temperature
excursion (TE) rates as compared to the
same payload size SU shippers.
ES: Utilizing the RU shipper will reduce solid
waste by 80-90% per year and lower waste
disposal costs. GHG emissions are reduced
10 to 20% per year.
2. Extend the expiration date
of existing components and/
or the existing shipper through
studies and supplier testing.
(no change to configuration or
shipper design).
Many shippers have met qualification testing
but may have component expiration dates
that require purchasing the replacement at
an earlier date. For example, a RU shipper
vacuum insulated panel (VIP) may have
a seven year expiration assembled with a
phase change material (PCM) that has a
three year expiration. By working with the
vendor to perform tests and studies, a new
seven year expiration date for the PCM is
approved. This means the use of a single
PCM has more than doubled from three
to seven years, reducing shipper cost and
waste over the seven-year period. The PCM
would no longer be disposed at the third
and sixth-year points.
Benefits: Cost savings by reducing per use
costs of shipper or component, and avoid
the planned purchase due to expiration.
Lower annual replacement costs.
Quality: Increasing the expiration date will
allow the component and/or shipper to
remain in the system longer until end-oflife
(EOL) is reached.
ES: Significant solid waste reduction, a
decrease in GHG emissions and lower waste
disposal costs.
3. Purchase or create a new
shipper with upgraded RU
shipper technology for design,
materials, and/or process model.
This method starts with the
intent to build a new shipper
with new technology features.
Benefits: Cost savings (reduce per use costs
of shipper or component), Depending on
the type of improvements: possible increase
in shipping duration, broader, more robust
temperature profile that maintains the
product temperature range, a lighter shipper
with smaller external dimensions, possible
lower freight costs and more product units
per pallet.
Quality: RU shippers are more robust,
have longer qualified shipping duration
times, and operate with very low TE rates as
compared to same-size SU shippers.
ES: Significant solid waste reduction, a
decrease in GHG emissions and lower waste
disposal costs.
4. Create a service center
network and drop-off
locations for RU shippers
or fleets of shippers.
Benefits: Cost savings through reduced
per use costs of shipper, using drop-off
points, and reduced fees and return freight
pharmoutsourcing.com | 9 | April/May/June 2024
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Pharmaceutical Outsourcing Q2 2024

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