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Advanced Cold Storage Logistics for Sensitive Drugs at Roche
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
- Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries
- Pharmaceuticals
- Healthcare & Hospitals
Applicable Functions
- Warehouse & Inventory Management
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Track & Trace of Assets
- Warehouse Automation
Services
- System Integration
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- Training
The Challenge
The new cold storage warehouse in Kaiseraugst closes a previous logistical gap: In sterile production, which consists of different operations (manufacturing, filling, packaging, shipping) that cannot be completed in immediate succession, the company had been forced to temporarily store products outside the Kaiseraugst campus. This process was inefficient and created extreme challenges for their material handling efforts in light of the need for a closed cold chain. The new cold storage now ensures that all operations can be completed at the same location across short distances, all within the control of Roche – from sterile production to packaging and shipping of injectable and infusible medications via truck and air freight. The warehouse was constructed over the course of two years and went into operation in 2013.
About The Customer
F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, or Roche for short, is an international pharmaceutical company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. With more than 90,000 employees, Roche had sales of approximately 48 billion Swiss francs in 2015. This makes Roche one of the world’s largest enterprises of its kind. Roche develops drugs, diagnostic agents and medical devices, focusing on innovations that offer a distinct advantage over products and solutions already on the market. For a number of years, the Swiss pharmaceutical company has been pursuing an ambitious development strategy aimed at further improving its research infrastructure, creating attractive jobs, and sustainably expanding specific locations. This includes the Kaiseraugst location in the Swiss canton of Aargau, a cornerstone of Roche’s international production and logistics network.
The Solution
F. Hoffmann-La Roche‘s new cold storage logistics in Kaiseraugst essentially consists of an automated high-bay cold storage warehouse with 8,100 pallet locations, which is kept at temperatures between 2 °C and 8 °C. In addition, a deep-freeze warehouse kept at –10 °C offers room for 196 pallets. Both warehouses are largely independent: The cold storage warehouse is for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, the deep-freeze warehouse for refrigerated containers and cooling elements needed for shipping. The cold storage logistics is connected to an annex with four floors (lower level, ground level, first and second upper level). The lower level is connected via a tunnel system to storage areas in production and packaging. The ground level is linked to the receiving and shipping areas with their four loading docks. The first upper level houses bulk picking of entire storage units as well as “pick and pack” for production, packaging and shipping. The deep-freeze warehouse is located on the second upper level. For Hans Reimann, project Lead and Senior project Manager at Roche, the biggest challenges were completing all construction and installation work during ongoing operations as well as coordinating between external and internal distribution centers. Sophisticated planning and systematic implementation made it all possible. Equally difficult was developing constantly new processes which had to be implemented within very short project phases. Designing the cold storage workstations was challenging as well because they had to meet strict ergonomic guidelines.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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