Pharma Cos Gear Up To Outsource FM Services
Mumbai, 22 May 2019: Indian pharma companies are today outsourcing integrated facility management (FM) services as a major strategy to address market needs and stricter global regulations. According to experts, as production of generics is huge, pharma companies are now looking to outsource their non-core activities to meet US FDA’s strict regulatory scrutiny to manage risks better.
With India being world’s largest exporter of generic drugs, pharmaceutical is going to be a large segment as the FM industry matures in India.
“This is one of the reasons why the facility management market in India with regards to the pharma industry has seen progress over the years. It is evolving especially in the pharma product manufacturing space. Though the market is still fragmented but more and more pharma players have now started adopting the integrated facility management model,” says Purvin Patel, CEO, ISS Facility Services India Pvt. Ltd, which has a reputed clientele base of companies like Sun pharmaceutical, Intas, Shire and hospitals like Kokilaben Hospital, Hiranandani Hospital, Wadia Hospital and KD Hospital.
He further adds that this is true at the global level. Nationally, big players have still not fully embraced an integrated FM model but a shift is definitely occurring.
The attitude towards facility management and outsourcing has been evolving in India. Globally, facility management companies manage all possible non-core activities including health, safety and environment (HSE), maintenance of lab equipment etc. In India, certain specific activities are outsourced like cleaning. Smaller players still dominate the scene in India. It has been observed that India is catching up with global trends and standards as Indian pharma companies are now preferring organised players such as big FM organisations who can support them in achieving their core objectives. There will be a larger shift in outsourcing technical and utilities management.
“We always design our services as per the needs of every product manufacturing plant and R&D centre of the client. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for each location or site is carefully considered before customising our services,” says Patel adding that special training sessions, documents and manuals are prepared in line with the customer’s requirements so that our people on site are well trained to help facilitate our customer’s core purpose.
ISS has implemented GxP training for the staff as it ensures compliance with all industry regulations. Real time data and documentations are also made available to check and ensure that the clients are meeting all industry regulatory and licensing requirements.
Company’s learning and development pyramid covers induction, health and safety, GxP Training, code of conduct training, supervisor enhancement program, manager enhancement program, management trainee program, key account manager certification and leadership mastery.
Towards 2020, technology will take over more domains and functions in the FM industry. It will provide comprehensive and innovative solutions to actively support the quality and efficiency of FM services. Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Digitisation etc. will have crucial influence on how this industry functions.
ISS has set itself the ambitious goal of increasing organic growth from 4 per cent to 6 per cent per annum by accelerating its transition towards key account customers. A two-year programme of expedited investment, encompassing services and platform like technology, data and innovation will materially enhance ISS’s delivery capabilities, Patel concludes. Pharmabiz