Pharmaceutical guides

Pharmaceutical supply chain explained

The stages, the risks and the systems that keep medicines traceable from raw material to patient.

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How the pharmaceutical supply chain works

The pharmaceutical supply chain moves medicines from raw material suppliers, through manufacturers and packagers, to wholesalers, pharmacies, hospitals and ultimately patients.

Every stage has to protect product quality and keep a traceable record. Temperature control, expiry dates, quality release and licensing all apply, and a weak link anywhere can lead to shortages, write-offs or recalls.

Connected systems help. When purchasing, stock, production, quality status and despatch sit in one ERP, each batch can be followed from supplier to customer without stitching records together.

Stages and what each needs

A simplified view of the chain and the controls at each point.

Raw materials

Approved suppliers, lot tracking and incoming quarantine.

Manufacturing

Batch records, quality testing and release.

Packaging

Labelling, lot and expiry assignment.

Wholesale and storage

Controlled storage, expiry-based picking.

Distribution

Despatch records and, where needed, temperature control.

Traceability

Forward and backward tracing for recalls.

Useful next reads

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Tell us where your business sits in the supply chain and we'll show you how Business Central would support it.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Raw material supply, manufacturing, packaging, wholesale and storage, distribution, and dispensing to patients.

Shortages, temperature excursions, expired stock, falsified medicines and gaps in traceability.

It connects purchasing, stock, production, quality status and despatch, so each batch can be traced and managed in one system.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) licenses and inspects manufacturers and wholesalers in the UK.

Pharmaceutical and life sciences ERP