Ο ρόλος των τεχνολογιών Industry 4.0 στη βελτιστοποίηση της φαρμακευτικής εφοδιαστικής αλυσίδας στην Ευρώπη
The role of Industry 4.0 technologies in optimizing the pharmaceutical supply chain in Europe
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Keywords
Industry 4.0 ; Φαρμακευτική εφοδιαστική αλυσίδα ; Ιχνηλασιμότητα φαρμάκων ; Predictive analytics ; Blockchain serialization ; Ψυχρή αλυσίδα ; Cold chain ; Ψηφιακός μετασχηματισμός υγείαςAbstract
This research investigates how Industry 4.0 technologies optimize the European pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC), which functions simultaneously as a vital public-health infrastructure and a highly regulated business ecosystem. The study finds that the PSC is hindered by fragmented data systems, limited interoperability and insufficient real-time visibility, resulting in inefficiencies, stockouts, increased operational costs and vulnerability to falsified medicines.
Key Industry 4.0 technologies — including IoT sensors, blockchain serialization, predictive analytics, digital twins and RPA-based automation — enable end-to-end visibility, enhanced traceability, real-time cold-chain monitoring and cost reduction. However, their implementation requires digital infrastructure, workforce reskilling, cross-stakeholder interoperability, and compliance with GDPR and European regulatory frameworks (EMA, FMD, EU4Health, Digital Europe).
Through case studies (Pfizer, Novartis/Roche blockchain pilot, DHL Life Sciences, e-prescription in Greece), comparative country benchmarking and KPI-based evaluation (availability, lead times, cold-chain deviations, inventory cost), the study demonstrates that Industry 4.0 adoption significantly improves traceability, resilience and cost efficiency.
Future directions include establishing EU-wide interoperability standards, supporting SMEs through digital readiness initiatives and strengthening data governance for secure cross-border exchange. The transformation of PSC requires not only technological adoption, but also organizational alignment and policy coordination.