Artificial intelligence driving inventory management for improved single-use systems manufacturing

Single-Use technology and systems have proven to enable a more flexible and cost-effective approach to biopharma commercial manufacturing and has seen exponential adoption over the past decade. However, along with this growth, it has exposed and highlighted instability and weakness within our supply chains that have led to increased lead times and vulnerability of this method of manufacturing. The pandemic has exposed the criticality of an efficient supply chain and how delicate it is today.  Our industry is at an inflection point now and looking for solutions to build a more robust process to assure supply of single use systems.

The manufacturing of a complete single-use assembly requires the production of many components, from thermoplastic elastomer tubing and filters to connectors and process sensors, more commonly referred to as the component library. Each assembly must be available, assembled, packed and able to withstand both typical and atypical transit challenges. If any part is impacted by the supply chain, it can increase delays in the production of life-changing therapies.

Component libraries continue to grow as new manufacturing products and methods are introduced and the supply chain becomes increasingly more complicated. Component standardization and using alternates have been offered as a potential solution, but have been greeted with little enthusiasm, and difficult to institute. Single Use technology’s greatest advantage is the manufacturing flexibility and customization it affords, putting constraints on this diminishes its greatest value.

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