According to
Global category leader for AstraZeneca, Julian Wann, that by the completion of
next year the pharma company would be transfer 70 percent of its volume by sea,
while this present year it was only
44percent. According to Julian Wann air freight is 78 percent more expensive
per kilo as compared to sea cargo. He
further stated that the density of the air cargo supply chain meant that in
some situations air freight is considered risky and unsecure. The value is in
having the right product at the right place at the right time and the highest
percentage of our complications come from air cargo.
Security Measures
Security is very
much important for us. If anything happens erroneously, trusting on insurance
is not actually the topic. Last year, AstraZeneca changed the way it organizes
its supply chain, he stated about to emphasis
on the subjects of velocity, visibility and variability. Price is not the matter
of debate. Sea cargo gives trustworthiness that we didn’t have before.
According to him velocity does not mean, let’s fly it everywhere. If we become
more well-organized we can plan sea freight. There is no loss, and it helps us
drive velocity.
Is collaboration needed with airlines?
Julian Wann also emphasized on close collaboration with airlines. This is a chance
for the airline industry to get closer to forwarders. Forwarders are working
very hard to support us. Airlines, answered that some forwarders did always not
give them adequate delivery information. According to a senior manager for
special cargo at IATA Andrea Gruber, it was upon the transporter and the
forwarder to bring the related parties together. Historically, airlines haven’t
wanted to approach the shipper. But the ground handler also needs to be
involved and the freight forwarder needs to get the right people together.
What AstraZeneca believes?
According to
another airline AstraZeneca was recognized as a general cargo shipper and asked
whether more excursions happened when transporters did not pay for the
specialized pharmaceutical products presented by the airlines.
Mr Wann answered
that the company did use some specialized products, but questioned the paying
for the extra cost every time.
The pharma
services don’t always give us the security we would like. We don’t always have
to spend that. We can get right without it and we want certainty for that
additional cost.