Facilitating new product introductions in pharmaceutical plants via optimized planning and outsourcing

Abstract

A multi-period, continuous-time, mixed-integer linear programming model that addresses the problem for the pharmaceutical plant using multiple parallel production lines in campaign mode and producing products with multiple intermediates is presented. A model was developed to evaluate in detail the operational and financial effects of product introductions at such plants. The planning of one primary multiplant production site F that maintains necessary inventories and supplies active ingredients to secondary production sites is focused. Examples to illustrate the effects of product introductions on plant production plans and the benefits of outsourcing are also presented.