Reconfiguration of Pharmaceutical Logistics Operations in China: An Empirical Study

This article discusses the transportation logistics of the pharmaceuticals market in China. Using telephonic interviews in addition to qualitative case studies, the authors provide nine factors that are understood to be beneficial for successful logistics operations. Typical pharmaceutical supply chains consist of primary manufacturing, secondary manufacturing, distribution centers, i.e. warehousing, wholesalers, and hospitals and pharmacies. This research was directed at five central parameters: 1) the extent to which logistics for these companies has been reconfigured, if so, 2) how have these logistics been reconfigured, 3) why such a reconfiguration is necessary or germane, 4) what would inhibit such a reconfiguration, and, lastly, 5) how could such a reconfiguration be properly implemented. The authors did not consider logistical considerations of retailers in this study, nor correlated raw survey data with geographical data.

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