When it comes to handling
narcotics, there is no
such things as too much
security. Schedule II narcotics,
the kinds of things used in lifesustaining
medicines, are a storage
and transport packaging challenge
for pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Because of a lack of secure vault
facilities, particularly on the East
Coast, Exel (Westerville, Ohio, www.
exel.com), a third-party logistics
provider, has established a specialized
vault in Mechanicsburg, Pa., for
handling narcotics.
Like a
ADVERTISEMENT
|
duck crossing a pond,
everything on the surface seems
quiet. It’s what you can’t see that’s
important. When agreeing to this
interview, Scott Cubbler, v.p., Life
Sciences Operations for Exel says,
“Naturally, we don’t want to draw a
lot of attention to how narcotics are
handled and shipped.”
Entering this vault requires
passing through four levels of
security, each increasing in intensity.
The final level of security is biometric
scanning, something rarely seen in a
distribution center.
“Within the vault,” explains Cubbler,
“we currently have 40,000 square feet
of space with 600 pallet positions for
storage. Because of our heightened
level of security, our license from the
DEA [Drug Enforcement Agency]
allows us to work in a cage area
around the vault where we can do
things like order fulfillment and repackaging
for the customers.”
The vault area is expandable and
will increase to fit the needs of the
customers, says Cubbler. “The whole
area [distribution] of life sciences
is expanding and people are just
now discovering that we, as a third
party, can offer secure packing and
handling services.”
Inventory control and security
are the watchwords in this facility.
An important part of this scenario is
communications, says Cubbler. “When
a customer requests an order, it has to be done with the DEA’s electronic
222 form.
|
