RFID for Pharmaceuticals: Streamlining Warehouse Operations

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Accuracy,‍‌‍‍‌ traceability, and regulatory compliance are essential things that cannot be compromised in the pharmaceutical industry. A view of the entire chain from production to distribution and delivery must be the result of each product’s journey through the supply chain. However, it is shocking that a great number of pharmaceutical warehouses still operate using manual processes or barcode systems that not only make operations slower but also increase the likelihood of mistakes. RFID for pharmaceuticals is revolutionary technology that changes the situation.

Among the most efficient automation methods for the tracking, tracing, and monitoring of drug inventory, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is the one that cannot be matched. Thanks to the real time visibility and automated identification, pharmaceutical companies will be able to increase their warehouse efficiency to a great extent, cut down on their operational costs and at the same time, contribute to patient ‍‌‍‍‌safety.

Why RFID Matters in Pharmaceutical Warehouses

Pharmaceutical warehouses manage a wide variety of SKUs that range from essential medicines to vaccines that require a specific temperature. The use of traditional barcode scanning that requires a direct view and is done by hand makes the process very slow and mistakes can often ‍‌‍‍‌occur.

Pharmaceutical RFID gets rid of such constraints basically by letting multiple things be scanned at the same time , even without direct visibility. As a result, there is:

• Receiving and dispatch that are faster
• Inventory counts that are accurate
• Compliance with global regulations improved
• Decrease in counterfeit risks
• More accurate control of the sensitive and high value drugs

The use of RFID technology in operations keeps the flow of work more efficient and at the same time, there is transparency and security throughout the supply chain.

How RFID Streamlines Warehouse Operations

Each ‌and every warehouse process of key nature gets transformed by the implementation of RFID technology. Here are the top areas where RFID brings the most significant ‍‌‍‍‌changes.

1. Automated Receiving and Put-Away

In‍‌‍‍‌ a conventional warehouse, employees physically scan barcodes or count the newly arrived products, which may cause the operation to be slow and the accuracy of the data to be ‍‌‍‍‌questioned.

With‍‌‍‍‌ RFID:

• Pallets or cartons with a Pharmaceutical RFID Label are automatically recognized when they pass through RFID gates.
• The system gets the quantity, batch number, manufacturing/expiry dates, and product type within no time.
• Put-away operations get accelerated and technology errors are eliminated since warehouse management systems (WMS) get real-time updates.

Such an automation eradicates the need for paperwork and makes it impossible for drug inbounds to go unregistered thus ensuring prompt logging into the ‍‌‍‍‌system.

2. Real Time Inventory Visibility

Manual‍‌‍‍‌ stock counts are a time consuming task that requires a lot of manpower and can also lead to operational interruptions. With the help of RFID, cycle counts can be done in a matter of minutes instead of ‍‌‍‍‌hours.

With‍‌‍‍‌ the use of portable or stationary RFID readers:

• Employees have the ability to scan a large number of items simultaneously.
• Differences in stock records are minimized.
• Inventory quantities remain accurate at any time.
• The WMS is getting real time updates, thus stock forecasting is getting better.

Precise inventory that is visible to the warehouse not only makes the warehouse more efficient but also lessens the occurrence of stockouts and ‍‌‍‍‌over stocking.

3. Batch and Expiry Tracking

Medications‍‌‍‍‌ have very strict expiration periods. Products that are about to expire may cause monetary losses, problems with adhering to regulations, and risks to ‍‌‍‍‌safety.

RFID‍‌‍‍‌ is instrumental in:

• Automatically capturing expiry dates through Pharmaceutical RFID tags
• Sending alerts for products that are close to expiry or already expired
• Enabling FIFO (First In First Out) and FEFO (First Expiry First Out) processes

Such facilities may alleviate the problem of product spoilage, guarantee the on-time delivery of goods, and uphold conformity to the pharmaceutical ‍‌‍‍‌regulations.

4. Improved Picking and Order Fulfillment

Errors ‌in order picking within the pharmaceutical sector might result in serious consequences such as a delay of the shipment or the distribution of the wrong ‍‌‍‍‌medication.

RFID‍‌‍‍‌ improves picking accuracy by:

• Using RFID equipped picking carts
• Automatic confirmation at packing stations
• Notify the incorrect item selection
• Quick location of the most requested or tightly controlled items

Order accuracy increases to a very high level with RFID and the time of packing is greatly ‍‌‍‍‌shortened.

5. Enhanced Security for Controlled Drugs

In many cases, pharmaceutical warehouses are the locations where narcotics, precious medicines, and controlled substances are stored. These are the items that must be kept under close surveillance and security at all ‍‌‍‍‌times.

RFID‍‌‍‍‌ provides:

• Nonstop tracking of the passage of goods
• Notifications about illegal access or abnormal behavior
• Complete record of the chain of custody

Moreover, RFID technology is able to link with control systems for access and closed circuit television to guarantee absolute ‍‌‍‍‌security.

Pharmaceutical RFID Label: The Backbone of RFID Tracking

A‍‌‍‍‌ pharmaceutical RFID label is an engineered tag that keeps the data of the products such as:

• Product ID
• Batch number
• Expiry date
• Serial number
• Manufacturer information

Such labels are made to withstand dampness, chemical exposure, and temperature changes, thereby they can be trusted to operate in a tough environment of a ‍‌‍‍‌warehouse.

Benefits of Using RFID for Pharmaceuticals

The‍‌‍‍‌ use of RFID in pharmaceutical warehouses results in clear benefits:

•  Higher efficiency

Automated processes eliminate delays, redundant labor, and bottlenecks.

•  100% traceability

Every product is traced from the point of entry to exit with a full movement history.

• Reduced operational cost

Less manual work and fewer errors contribute to a reduction in the total ‍‌‍‍‌costs.

• ‍‌‍‍‌ Better compliance

With the help of RFID, compliance with worldwide regulations such as FDA, DSCSA, and EU FMD is guaranteed.

• Lower risk of counterfeits

The use of RFID labels in the pharmaceutical supply chain makes it easier to authenticate products and enhances the security of the supply chain.

• Increased employee productivity

Employees who perform the scanning task are given more time to work on other tasks of higher value and which cannot be ‍‌‍‍‌delegated.

Why Partner with Acube Infotech for Pharmaceutical RFID Solutions?

Acube Infotech is a one stop solution provider for RFID enabled pharmaceutical warehouses. Our master services include:

• Choosing the right tags accurately
• Planning the complete layout of the warehouse
• Integration with WMS
• Installation of RFID gates, handheld and tunnel
• Customized dashboards and analytics
• Compliance with regulations

We provide your business with the kind of technologically advanced solutions that would stay relevant as your operations grow and evolve whether you have a very small distribution hub or a large pharmaceutical cold chain warehouse.

Conclusion

Pharmaceutical supply chains require the utmost care, precision, and efficiency. The integration of RFID in the pharmaceutical industry is gradually transitioning from being a mere luxury to an indispensable necessity for companies that want to remain viable in the market and adhere to regulations.

Pharmaceutical warehouses through the implementation of RFID technology and a sturdy Pharmaceutical RFID Label can not only simplify their operations but also lessen the work that is done by hand, improve the precision of the work, and ensure the safety of the products throughout the entire ‍‌‍‍‌process.

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