Siemens and GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, have entered a global strategic partnership. Siemens will become a strategic partner of GSK in manufacturing automation and thus, become the preferred automation supplier for GSK production and R&D sites worldwide, including vaccines.
This new agreement further develops the long standing successful relationship between both companies and helps GSK to refresh their global automation strategy.
Dave Tudor, Vice President Primary Supply and leader of the Global Automation Steering Team of GSK, said: “I am delighted that we have reached an agreement to make Siemens a strategic partner. One of our objectives is to simplify and standardise the automation space by identifying a small number of systems and suppliers and this is the first step on our journey to achieving this. This will create a real win-win situation, not just for today, but for the long term, for GSK, Siemens and most importantly our patients.”
Eckard Eberle, CEO of the Siemens Business Unit Process Automation, added: “Integrated automation and digitalisation solutions are important levers for pharmaceutical companies to raise efficiency and productivity whilst ensuring safety and quality. As a reliable partner, we will support GSK this way by providing a unique integrated portfolio comprising hardware, software and services across the entire plant life cycle.”
A detailed list of criteria has also been agreed between the two companies to ensure the relationship develops in the right way. These include executive sponsorship on both sides, transparency with bi-directional trust, behaviours that are not just financially driven, a joint determination to succeed and relationship innovation that adds value. The partnership will provide a focus into process control, equipment control and building management systems within the manufacturing and R&D pilot plants of GlaxoSmithKline. Four main areas have been identified: modular manufacturing, batch sterile facility blue print, machine and production line optimisation and manufacturing blue print for different dosage forms.
