Pharma Supply Chains Are Functional — But Optimisation Gaps Persist

Pharmaceutical supply chain leaders are managing day-to-day operations, but structural gaps in visibility, cross-functional collaboration, and data utilisation are limiting the sector's ability to move from reactive management to genuine optimisation, according to findings presented at LogiPharma. For plant heads and supply chain directors operating under 21 CFR Part 211 and ICH Q10 quality system expectations, the distinction matters: functional is not the same as resilient.

The LogiPharma report identifies three core areas where pharma organisations are falling short: real-time supply chain visibility, inter-organisational collaboration, and the translation of data into operational decisions. These are not new challenges, but the data suggests progress has been incremental rather than structural. In an environment where supply disruptions carry direct patient impact and regulatory consequence, incremental is a risk posture, not a strategy.

Data dependency is a recurring theme. Schuster, Strategic Account Executive for Pharma at project44, reinforced the report's findings on data infrastructure, noting that supply chain performance is increasingly contingent on the quality and accessibility of real-time data feeds across the network. For QA directors and logistics leads, this points to a gap between existing ERP architectures and the dynamic visibility tools now considered baseline in adjacent industries.

The report's third chapter addresses collaboration specifically, examining how pharma organisations are working with external partners, including CMOs, 3PLs, and raw material suppliers. The findings suggest that collaboration frameworks remain underdeveloped relative to the complexity of modern pharmaceutical supply networks, where a single finished dose product may cross multiple GMP-regulated sites and jurisdictions before reaching the patient.

Source: Pharmaceutical Industry News, reporting on the LogiPharma supply chain benchmarking report, published 29 April 2026.