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Looking Forward in Reverse Logistics Seminar
Tuesday, September 21 - Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Hilton Milwaukee City Center • Milwaukee, Wis.
Looking Forward in Reverse Logistics Seminar Highlights
Distributed in the October 5, 2010 edition of the Distribution Digest
Nearly 85 manufacturers, distributors, retailers and third-party processors recently assembled in Milwaukee for HDMA’s fourth Looking Forward in Reverse Logistics seminar. The seminar provided an opportunity for supply chain trading partners to assess current trends in reverse logistics and discuss solutions to common industry challenges.
Following a lively town hall discussion moderated by Dan Raftery of Raftery Resource Network, Inc., the seminar kicked off with an assessment of key returns drivers from a supply chain perspective. Panelists — including Trisha Breunig of Lilly USA, LLC; Scott Bradford of McKesson Corporation; and Ed Crimmins of Rite-Aid — discussed inventory data analysis and the importance of communicating with trading partners. The panel also addressed several questions surrounding their experience with internal Six Sigma teams, shelf life extension efforts, managing down brands in the face of generic introductions, expiration dating windows and the untapped benefits of EDI transactions.
Delving into the pharmacy perspective, Stephen Perlowski of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores presented IMS Health data on the number of written prescriptions that are actually relayed to the pharmacy, picked up, taken properly and refilled as prescribed. He then led panelists Gina Hastreiter and Barb Martin of Walgreens and John Jankowski of Ye Olde Pharmacy in an insightful discussion of pharmacy practices that support patient adherence to medications. The panel provided the audience a better understanding of how packaging and case size decisions may impact returns if prescribing practices are not aligned with these decisions.
Throughout each day, attendees explored a number of topics during interactive roundtable discussions with their trading partners.
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In addition to expert-led panels, the seminar provided ample opportunities for attendees to participate in interactive roundtable discussions. Throughout each day, attendees explored issues, successes, solutions and action steps on a number of topics, including managing recall communications; reducing cycle time, product dating and expiration issues; managing an NDC change; consolidated batch returns and more. According to Ron Hoelzer, Director of Divisional Compliance Operations at H. D. Smith, “The roundtable discussions provided take-away topics that were meaningful and supported streamlining the processes that can result in industry best practices.”
On the seminar’s second day, Frank Lee of Smith Drug Company and Co-Chair of the HDMA Returns Task Force updated attendees on the committee’s recent activities and accomplishments. Following Lee, the discussion turned to product disposal issues with a panel moderated by Marjorie DePuy of HDMA. Panelists, including Carmen Fusselman of Shopko; Chris Magruder of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District; Ann Pistell from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection; and Phil Schneider of Tier One Associates, NCPA and the NCPA Foundation explored how the industry can manage the gaps that limit successful ongoing prescription take-back programs and how the supply chain can work together to meet these challenges.
Rounding out the program was a session focusing on the current legislative and regulatory activity impacting returned pharmaceuticals, drug disposal, pedigree and track-and-trace initiatives. Moderated by Perry Fri of HDMA, the panel featured Daniel Bellingham of HDMA; Tish Pahl of Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC; and Mary Hendrickson of GENCO Pharmaceutical Services.
Reflecting on the seminar, Sean Spears, Senior Director of Trade Relations at Eisai Inc., remarked, “I thought the seminar was great! I validated some of my thoughts around return logistics and left with improved process possibilities to build on in the future. The panel discussions were interesting and educational. I certainly appreciate where the manufacturer is coming from, and now have a better understanding where the retailer and processor may be going. This seminar was a good time for networking with my peers and was definitely worth
my time.”
HDMA is grateful for the support of the organizations listed below, without which the Looking Forward in Reverse Logistics seminar would not have been possible:
Eisai Inc.
EXP Pharmaceutical Services Corp.
GENCO Pharmaceutical Services
Guaranteed Returns
Inmar, Inc.
Stericyle ExpertRETURN
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