Pharma Manufacturing & Supply Chain Summit | Day 2
7:45 am
NETWORKING BREAKFAST: BUILD COMMUNITY CONTACTS
- Start your day off right and connect with pharma manufacturing & supply chain leaders
- Get to know your industry peers and colleagues over a delicious breakfast
- Source practical tips, discuss best practices and prepare for the day ahead
8:45 am
OPENING COMMENTS FROM YOUR HOST
Gain insight into today’s sessions so you can get the most out of your conference experience
9:00 am
OPENING KEYNOTE
ADVANCE OPERATIONAL AGILITY AMID GEOPOLITICAL VOLATILITY AND PRICING PRESSURE: A PHARMA COMMERCIAL CASE STUDY
Geopolitical instability, trade disruption, and global pricing reforms are reshaping pharmaceutical commercialization, challenging companies to protect supply while remaining competitive in Canada. Strengthen end-to-end operational agility across manufacturing and supply functions to respond rapidly to volatility, safeguard margins, and maintain reliable product availability.
Adopt best practice to:
- Align manufacturing capacity, supply network strategy, and inventory positioning to mitigate geopolitical and trade risk
- Redesign governance models to enable faster, data-driven decision-making across commercial operations
- Protect service levels and working capital amid demand variability and pricing pressure
- Reassess sourcing and footprint strategy to strengthen Canadian supply reliability
- Implement performance metrics that balance margin protection, operational resilience, compliance, and service performance
Build a resilient, end-to-end commercial operating model capable of responding to geopolitical and pricing pressures while safeguarding reliable product supply.
9:30 am
EXCLUSIVE SPOTLIGHT
FUTURE TRENDS SHAPING PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY CHAIN OPERATIONS AND TRADE RELATIONS
As global pharmaceutical supply chains continue to face disruptions, regulatory complexities, and shifting trade dynamics, organizations must rethink how they manage sourcing, logistics, and operational continuity. Strengthen supply chain resilience through effective trade relations, cross-border collaboration, and streamlined operational execution by:
- Building resilient sourcing and supplier diversification strategies
- Enhancing operational efficiency across manufacturing and distribution networks
- Leveraging collaboration and strategic partnerships to reduce disruption risks
- Balancing cost optimization with supply continuity and compliance
10:00 am
INDUSTRY EXPERT
CONTROL COSTS AND PROTECT MARGINS IN COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS: END-TO-END PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION
Rising input costs, domestic manufacturing investments, and supply chain complexity are placing pressure on commercial margins. Implement end-to-end performance optimization strategies to improve financial control across manufacturing and supply operations. Adopt practical processes to:
- Identify cost drivers across manufacturing, inventory, and distribution networks
- Optimize production planning and network configuration to improve cost efficiency
- Improve cross-functional financial visibility to support better decision-making
- Leverage advanced analytics to reduce waste and improve operational margins
Strengthen financial performance across commercial manufacturing and supply to protect margins while maintaining service and compliance.
10:30 am
ROUNDTABLES: DISCOVER THOUGHT-PROVOKING IDEAS
Take a deep dive down the innovation rabbit hole in one of our roundtable discussions. Share common challenges and best practices with your manufacturing and supply chain peers on a topic of your choosing:
- Optimizing manufacturing capacity for commercial demand
- Leveraging technology to improve process robustness and reduce deviations
- Direct-to-patient and specialty logistics strategies
- Embedding cross-functional accountability for quality and operational performance
- Strengthening Canada – US cross-border supply
11:00 am
EXHIBITOR LOUNGE: VISIT BOOTHS & SOURCE EXPERTISE
- Explore the latest pharma manufacturing and supply chain products, services and strategies with our industry leading sponsors.
- Share your challenges with the biggest innovators in the business.
- Schedule one-to-one private meetings for personalized advice.
11:30 am
CASE STUDY
DRIVE MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE AND OPTIMISE CAPACITY TO MEET COMMERCIAL DEMAND
As demand volatility, portfolio complexity and specialty products increase, manufacturers must align operational excellence with long-term growth strategy. Implement disciplined capacity planning and performance frameworks to sustain agility, efficiency, and commercial alignment. Source practical tips to:
- Align capacity planning with commercial forecasts, launch timelines and lifecycle management
- Balance resilience and efficiency while managing inventory risk and cost pressures
Strengthen operational KPIs and continuous improvement frameworks to support scalable growth
11:30 am
CASE STUDY
ENABLE SEAMLESS CANADA–US CROSS-BORDER SUPPLY TO PREVENT CUSTOMS DELAYS AND PROTECT COMMERCIAL PRODUCT FLOW
Cross-border pharmaceutical supply must navigate regulatory requirements, customs inspections, and compliance obligations to maintain reliable product availability. Incorporate strategies to comply with U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) requirements while protecting service levels and operational efficiency.
Take away best practice to:
- Understand key DSCSA requirements, including serialization, traceability, and verification for U.S.-bound products
- Identify common customs and regulatory bottlenecks between Canada and the U.S.
- Align manufacturing, supply, and quality teams to prevent product holds and disruptions
- Implement tools and technology to streamline cross-border compliance and maintain service levels
Strengthen Canada – U.S. supply continuity by ensuring regulatory compliance and proactive risk management for commercial product flow.
12:00 pm
INDUSTRY EXPERT
ACCELERATE COMMERCIAL TECH TRANSFER AND SITE TRANSITIONS TO PROTECT SUPPLY CONTINUITY
Commercial organizations frequently face site transfers, network changes, and process scale adjustments that introduce operational and compliance risk. Implement structured tech transfer and site transition strategies to reduce disruption and ensure reliable commercial manufacturing performance. Take away practical strategies to:
- Standardize tech transfer frameworks to reduce timelines and variability
- Mitigate operational and regulatory risks during site transitions
- Improve documentation, knowledge transfer, and cross-site collaboration
- Protect commercial supply continuity during manufacturing network changes
Strengthen tech transfer and site transition execution to reduce risk, maintain compliance, and ensure uninterrupted commercial manufacturing performance.
12:00 pm
INDUSTRY EXPERT
OPTIMIZE LAST-MILE DISTRIBUTION AND PATIENT-CENTRIC DELIVERY MODELS
Evolving patient needs and specialty product requirements are increasing pressure on last-mile distribution performance. Implement innovative logistics and delivery strategies to improve reliability and patient access. Source practical tips to:
- Improve visibility and control across final distribution stages
- Reduce delivery lead times and temperature excursion risks
- Strengthen collaboration with specialty distributors and healthcare providers
- Enhance service performance while managing cost pressures
Strengthen last-mile delivery capabilities to improve patient access and commercial supply reliability.
12:30 pm
NETWORKING LUNCH: DELVE INTO INDUSTRY CONVERSATIONS
- Meet interesting speakers and pick their brains on the latest industry issues
- Expand your network and make connections that last beyond the conference
- Enjoy great food and service while engaging with your pharma manufacturing and supply chain colleagues
1:30 pm
EXHIBITOR LOUNGE: VISIT BOOTHS & WIN PRIZES
- Browse sponsor booths and explore solutions designed to enhance commercial manufacturing and supply performance
- Enter your name for a chance to win exciting prizes
- Take advantage of event-specific offers and special content
1:45 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION
STRENGTHEN QUALITY CULTURE TO REDUCE BATCH FAILURES AND IMPROVE RIGHT-FIRST-TIME PERFORMANCE
Sustaining commercial supply requires a strong quality culture embedded across manufacturing operations. Align leadership, workforce engagement, and operational discipline to improve right-first-time performance. Take away best practice to:
- Foster cross-functional accountability for quality outcomes
- Reduce deviations and investigations through proactive quality management
- Align quality metrics with operational performance goals
- Embed continuous improvement into daily manufacturing practices
Strengthen quality culture to enhance compliance, reduce risk, and improve manufacturing performance.
1:45 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION
TRANSFORM YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN WITH AI, AUTOMATION, AND DIGITAL INNOVATION TO DRIVE EFFICIENCY AND AGILITY
The pharmaceutical industry is adopting digital technologies like AI, automation, and blockchain to optimize supply chains and improve decision-making. Integrate digitalization to streamline your supply chain and boost efficiency and decision-making capabilities. Develop a roadmap to:
- Leverage AI and machine learning for smarter demand forecasting and inventory management
- Automate warehouse operations with robotics and robotic process automation (RPA) to improve efficiency
- Enhance supply chain transparency and security using blockchain technology
- Utilize predictive analytics to anticipate disruptions and improve decision-making agility
Harness AI, automation, and blockchain to optimize your supply chain, enhancing operational efficiency, agility, and real-time insights.
2:15 pm
INDUSTRY EXPERT
ENHANCE PROCESS ROBUSTNESS AND REDUCE DEVIATIONS THROUGH ADVANCED PROCESS ANALYTICS
Process variability and batch failures continue to impact commercial manufacturing performance and cost. Implement advanced process analytics and monitoring solutions to improve robustness and reduce deviations. Source practical tips to:
- Improve real-time process monitoring and early deviation detection
- Reduce batch failures and rework through predictive analytics
- Strengthen process control to enhance right-first-time manufacturing
- Integrate advanced analytics into existing commercial production environments
Improve process robustness to reduce cost, enhance quality, and strengthen commercial manufacturing reliability.
2:15 pm
INDUSTRY EXPERT
STRENGTHEN DECISION-MAKING THROUGH SCENARIO MODELING AND NETWORK SIMULATION
Supply chain volatility requires faster, data-driven scenario planning to protect commercial performance. Implement advanced modeling and simulation tools to improve strategic and operational decision-making. Adopt practical strategies to:
- Model supply network disruptions and contingency scenarios
- Evaluate trade-offs between cost, service, and risk
- Improve planning accuracy through predictive simulation tools
- Support executive decision-making with real-time operational insights
Enhance supply chain decision-making to improve agility, resilience, and commercial performance.
2:45 pm
CASE STUDY
OPTIMIZE INVENTORY STRATEGIES BETWEEN MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY TO REDUCE WORKING CAPITAL WITHOUT RISKING SERVICE LEVELS
Balancing service reliability with working capital efficiency is critical in commercial operations. Implement integrated inventory strategies across manufacturing and supply to improve financial performance without increasing risk. Take away best practice to:
- Align safety stock and production strategies with commercial demand variability
- Reduce excess inventory while protecting service levels
- Improve coordination between manufacturing release and distribution planning
- Use data-driven insights to balance cost, risk, and availability
Optimize inventory performance to improve financial outcomes while ensuring uninterrupted commercial supply.
2:45 pm
CASE STUDY
MANAGE PRODUCT LIFECYCLE CHANGES WITHOUT DISRUPTING COMMERCIAL SUPPLY
Artwork updates, line extensions, site transfers, and regulatory changes can introduce risk into established commercial supply chains. Implement structured lifecycle management processes to protect continuity and compliance. Take away best practice to:
- Coordinate cross-functional planning for lifecycle and regulatory changes
- Mitigate supply risk during product transfers or packaging updates
- Align manufacturing, regulatory, and supply teams during transitions
- Maintain service levels while executing commercial product changes
Ensure seamless product lifecycle transitions while protecting commercial supply continuity.
3:15 pm
EXHIBITOR LOUNGE: ATTEND VENDOR DEMOS & CONSULT INDUSTRY EXPERTS
- Enjoy exclusive sponsor demos and experience the next level of pharma manufacturing and supply chain innovation firsthand
- Meet one-on-one with leading solution providers to discuss organizational hurdles
- Brainstorm solutions and gain new perspectives and ideas
3:45 pm
INDUSTRY EXPERT
ENABLE REAL-TIME END-TO-END CONTROL THROUGH INTEGRATED COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS PLATFORMS
Disconnected systems and siloed data limit visibility and responsiveness across commercial manufacturing and supply operations. Implement integrated operational platforms to enhance coordination, transparency, and performance. Master the success factors to:
- Connect manufacturing, supply, and quality data in a unified environment
- Improve real-time visibility across commercial operations
- Enable faster decision-making through centralized performance dashboards
- Reduce inefficiencies caused by fragmented systems
Create a more connected commercial organization that improves visibility, coordination, and operational performance.
4:15 pm
CLOSING KEYNOTE
DECARBONIZE COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY CHAINS TO MEET 2030 NET-ZERO TARGETS
Pharma and biotech organizations face increasing pressure from regulators, investors, and stakeholders to reduce carbon emissions across manufacturing and supply chain operations. Implement strategies that decarbonize operations while maintaining efficiency, compliance, and reliable product supply. Take away best practice to:
- Identify carbon hotspots in manufacturing and supply chain operations and prioritize reduction opportunities
- Implement energy-efficient technologies, low-carbon processes, and sustainable logistics solutions
- Align operational performance with 2030 Net-Zero targets while ensuring compliance and supply reliability
- Measure, track, and report carbon reduction initiatives to demonstrate progress to stakeholders
Decarbonize commercial operations to achieve Net-Zero goals while maintaining operational efficiency and reliable supply.
4:45 pm
CLOSING COMMENTS FROM YOUR HOST
Review the key solutions and takeaways from the conference. Source a summary of action points to implement in your work.
5:00 pm