Real Time Information - What will you do with it ?
Recently, I spoke at a BioPharma Forum at NC State University. I had fun ! I was honored to be on the same panel as a person I admire immensely - Paul Clayton, VP, Supply Logistics, Glaxo SmithKline.
I first met Paul in London. Our team had organized a supply chain game, illustrating some of GSK's supply chain initiatives. Paul was one of the participants.
At the end of the game, which went really well, I remember hanging around at the bar late at night. Paul came up and congragulated me and bought me a drink. That was one of the high points of 2003 !
Back to the topic - I spoke on "Latest Trends in Transportation". One of the themes I touched on was RFID. I talked about the ability of RFID to revolutionize the world. I then asked the audience what they believed was the biggest benefit of RFID. A gentleman responded that it was the ability of RFID to give a huge amount of real-time information.
I then asked the audience to imagine a scenario ...
Each of them are top executives at major Pharma companies. A genie comes to them and promises to give them 100% real-time information, completely accurate, well organized and relevant. I asked the audience if that would really make a difference ?
Of course it would make some difference ... Some things would be done better. But its really doubtful whether all of this information could generate a quantum leap for the organization .. Because most companies do not have the right processes in place to capitalize on all of this information.
So, my concluding remarks were "RFID is only a means, not an end". RFID is not going to solve all business problems. Fundamental process changes are required before information from RFID can truly be used to improve efficiency within the organization ....
I first met Paul in London. Our team had organized a supply chain game, illustrating some of GSK's supply chain initiatives. Paul was one of the participants.
At the end of the game, which went really well, I remember hanging around at the bar late at night. Paul came up and congragulated me and bought me a drink. That was one of the high points of 2003 !
Back to the topic - I spoke on "Latest Trends in Transportation". One of the themes I touched on was RFID. I talked about the ability of RFID to revolutionize the world. I then asked the audience what they believed was the biggest benefit of RFID. A gentleman responded that it was the ability of RFID to give a huge amount of real-time information.
I then asked the audience to imagine a scenario ...
Each of them are top executives at major Pharma companies. A genie comes to them and promises to give them 100% real-time information, completely accurate, well organized and relevant. I asked the audience if that would really make a difference ?
Of course it would make some difference ... Some things would be done better. But its really doubtful whether all of this information could generate a quantum leap for the organization .. Because most companies do not have the right processes in place to capitalize on all of this information.
So, my concluding remarks were "RFID is only a means, not an end". RFID is not going to solve all business problems. Fundamental process changes are required before information from RFID can truly be used to improve efficiency within the organization ....
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