The pharmaceutical industry has been slow to embrace sustainability due to the absence of strong consumer demand and the perception that sustainability is costly. However, digitization and stricter ESG demands from investors are driving change. To succeed, companies need to consider their entire operation, focusing on people, processes, and technology. Here are some steps to achieve this:

1. Start with clear goals: Identify your sustainability objectives, such as reducing energy consumption, and establish a roadmap to achieve them.

2. Improve asset management: Streamline your operations by aligning physical assets with your strategy. Efficient asset management can lower energy usage and boost productivity.

3. Invest in the right technology: Prioritize technology that adds value, like condition monitoring, to enhance reliability and sustainability.

Pharmaceutical companies should consider specific areas of digitalization, particularly in asset performance management with AI and machine learning. This requires new skills and third-party expertise to build data analysis models, but this technology offers productivity, safety, and sustainability benefits.

However, many struggle due to poor data management and poor data quality. Invest in software that can work across various equipment manufacturers for predictive maintenance and improved decision-making. Develop a digital strategy, emphasizing foundational data quality and effective communication. Determine where and how to apply digital technology, focusing on critical assets.

A smart culture’s success depends on effective change management. While Industry 4.0 technologies can address some workforce challenges, adapting to a more technologically driven workplace requires engagement, new procedures, and education.

Leadership and communication are crucial. Engaged employees and effective leadership can turn the promise of a smart culture into reality, leading to optimized manufacturing and improved sustainability through digitization.

To read the full article go to the Life Cycle Engineering website: https://www.lce.com/resources/for-the-sake-of-sustainability-put-people-at-your-core/