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Accenture this summer plans to begin limited deployments of RFID technology in pharmaceutical supply chains as part of a project called Jump Start.
Jamie Hintlian, a partner in the consulting firm's health and life sciences supply chain practice, said the initial rollout shouldn't be viewed as a test of the technology. Accenture considers it to be Version 1.0 of a system that's being designed for use throughout the prescription drug industry, he said.
The companies that have signed on as Jump Start partners and tapped Accenture to be their RFID program manager include Abbott Laboratories, Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cardinal Health Inc., CVS Corp., Johnson & Johnson, McKesson, Pfizer Inc., Procter & Gamble Co. and Rite Aid Corp. Also working with Accenture are the Healthcare Distribution Management Association and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.
In the initial phase of the project, Accenture will use RFID tags to track bulk bottle shipments of two prescription medicines from five drug makers to a distribution center. From there, the products will be tracked to two pharmacies operated by each of the participating drugstore chains.
Hintlian said the limited rollout will give Accenture and its partners an opportunity to assess RFID technology, including readers, tags and databases, in a real world environment. Accenture also wants to use the initial setup to show how the technology can ensure the safety and security of prescription drugs, improve management of product returns and increase the efficiency of distribution operations, he added.
According to Hintlian, Accenture is responsible for selecting the RFID hardware and supporting software and networking devices, in consultation with its Jump Start partners. He noted that the initiative will include the use of electronic product codes based on standards developed by EPCglobal Inc., whose standards are also being adopted by Wal-Mart.
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