Behind Every Product: How AbbVie's Integrated Operations Help Prevent Drug Shortages

For patients with diseases that interfere with their daily lives, like a father who wasn't sure he could attend his daughter's wedding due to his Parkinson's disease, receiving medication on time isn't just convenient. It's life-altering. Behind every treatment lies AbbVie's sophisticated global operations network designed with one uncompromising purpose: ensuring patients never miss a critical dose.

"Our goal is to ensure our patients never go without the medicines they depend on,” said Azita Saleki-Gerhardt, AbbVie EVP, Chief Operations Officer. "One of our fundamental pillars of operations is assurance of supply and we have a comprehensive, multi-layered approach designed to meet the needs of patients, even in unpredictable or unforeseen circumstances. Our manufacturing sites and distribution centers are strategically located so that critical products and components are manufactured at multiple geographically diverse sites operating with resilient and redundant systems.”

In an industry where drug shortages globally have become an increasing public health concern, AbbVie's strategic, cross-functional approach to assurance of supply has become even more important. For patients, drug shortages pose a serious threat that can delay, and in some cases even prevent, critically needed care.

"We have to supply our patients with the medicines they need – it's a zero-fail mission," says Marc J. O'Donoghue, VP of Supply Chain, AbbVie. "Even in markets facing significant challenges, we look at how we can divert products under special dispensation to ensure patients get their treatments.”

This patient-first mindset drives AbbVie's holistic approach to Operations, which has been tested by everything from a global pandemic and canal blockages to airspace closures due to regional conflicts.

Since AbbVie delivers vital lifesaving medicines to patients, building and maintaining a stable, prepared and resilient supply chain is vital. Under its assurance of supply program, AbbVie has developed a robust and diversified global operations network that is platform-based and end-to-end, characterized by geographic balance, multiple supply sites, an inventory strategy, risk prevention, crisis management and real-time monitoring.

Manufacturing sites and distribution centers are strategically located so that critical products and components are produced at multiple, geographically diverse sites that operate with resilient and redundant systems.

By implementing and maintaining robust quality controls from end to end, patients, customers and regulators can rely on AbbVie to deliver a consistent supply of innovative, safe and effective products.

AbbVie's Quality Assurance team provides global product quality oversight and continuous improvement across the supply chain and product lifecycle. The company strives to deliver a best-in-class Quality System for products across the lifecycle, requiring a robust and effective governance structure, supported by tools, technology and training.

At AbbVie, quality is everyone’s responsibility. Kevin Fitzpatrick, AbbVie SVP of Quality Assurance, says, “We hold ourselves to the highest standards of quality and safety. By implementing and maintaining robust quality controls from end to end, our patients, customers and regulators can rely on us to deliver a consistent supply of innovative, safe and effective products.”

AbbVie employs multiple systems to detect potential supply disruptions before they impact patients. These range from long-range planning that forecasts demand years in advance to monthly supply meetings that analyze real-time sales performance.

"We assess the current capacity and capabilities of our manufacturing sites regularly and analyze the forecasts for production volumes on a monthly basis," O'Donoghue explains. To maintain assurance of supply, Operations is responsible for end-to-end management of the product lifecycle.