In this episode of SCW for Pharma, Evren Ozkaya welcomes Andrew Kewson, Head of Global Supply Chain Management at Basilea Pharmaceutica. With a background spanning packaging engineering, food and beverage, and global supply chain roles in pharma, Andrew brings a unique perspective to the industry's operational challenges and digital future.

The conversation opens with Andrew’s view on the agility advantage held by smaller pharma companies. Unlike their larger counterparts, they are not weighed down by legacy systems—making it easier to build efficient, responsive supply chains from the ground up. Especially in the wake of COVID-19, agility and resilience have become non-negotiable traits for navigating uncertainty.

Andrew highlights how digital tools and AI are beginning to reshape the industry, particularly in areas like root cause analysis and anomaly detection. He points out that while big pharma often struggles with fragmented or unreliable data, smaller companies can build reliable systems from the start, giving them a head start in adopting advanced technologies.

Packaging inefficiencies are another key area of discussion. Compared to faster-moving consumer industries, pharma lines often sit idle. Andrew explains how better data visibility on the shop floor can expose bottlenecks, helping teams unlock hidden capacity without major capital investments.

Evren and Andrew also dig into the human side of operational excellence. Andrew stresses the value of cross-functional ownership—from finance to HR to operators—in fostering a lean culture. When everyone is aligned on production goals and outcomes, improvements come faster and motivation grows.

The conversation closes with a look at AI’s future in pharma. Both agree that without reliable, rich data, AI’s potential is limited. Evren introduces SCW’s 3D framework—Data, Dashboard, Decision—to explain the digital transformation journey, emphasizing the foundational role of high-quality data before automation can truly take hold.