The 4 Phase Approach to Successful Outsourcing

With manufacturing outsourcing now the default route for almost all new product development ViaPharm's Tim Green outlines the 4 key phases essential for successful outsourcing and ongoing management

Phase 1 -Preparation
Before the search for a suitable contract manufacturer can begin, it is first important that the product requirements, including technical, quality, regulatory and safety are documented in the form of a Product Information Dossier. As simple as this may seem, many companies fail to prepare a dossier, sufficiently comprehensive, to allow potential contract manufacturers a fair assessment of what might be demanded from them and upon which to make a commercial offer for supply of the product.

ViaPharm has a profound understanding of the requirements of a contract manufacturer in its assessment of such projects and in collaboration with technical representatives of its clients, ViaPharm can provide assistance and guidance to ensure that a comprehensive package is produced which will enable a candidate contract manufacturer to evaluate the project and be confident of its practical and commercial assessment.

Phase 2 -Search
Armed with a detailed Product Information Dossier, the search for a suitable contract manufacturer can commence. With the industry wide focus on outsourcing, advertisements for contract manufacturing organisations throng the pages of glossy journals and publications. Unfortunately the production capabilities advertised frequently flatter the actual expertise of companies and time spent 'trawling' such journals, whilst initially appearing promising, often leads to dead end enquiries.

ViaPharm has extensive and intimate knowledge of many European contract manufacturing organisations and most importantly their actual capabilities and capacities. Through this ViaPharm is able reduce the time and cost of searches by directing its clients to the most likely outsourcing partners having the actual capabilities to meet their requirements.

Phase 3 - Technology Transfer
As the most costly and critical stage of the process, technology transfer is the next step in the outsourcing exercise. To ensure that this stage meets all the regulatory requirements and is completed in an economic and timely manner it is vital that a clear strategy is defined, which is then translated into a mutually agreed project execution plan.

ViaPharm not only offers guidance in determining a transfer strategy but can also provide expert project management services and furthermore by acting as direct liaison with an appointed contract manufacturer can reduce the burden on a customer's in-house resources.

Phase 4 - Contract Maintenance
Unfortunately the management of outsourcing projects does not end with successful technology transfer and qualification of a new site of manufacture. Companies need to maintain a regular monitor of their supplier's performance as well as proactively providing updates on specification changes, artwork amendments and the many other details which contribute to the smooth management of the product supply.

ViaPharm can draw on its experience in managing the supply of outsourced products to ensure that the benefits envisaged in a client's initial strategic decision to outsource continuously delivers a long-term economic advantage.

Ultimately successful outsourcing = preparation: search: technology transfer:contract maintenance

To discover how our experience can provide the solution you need contact us.