Lean in Novartis Pharma: Sustainability Through a Five Step Deployment Methodology

Abstract

Novartis Pharma began its most recent chapter in Operational Excellence in 2004 achieving tremendous results in productivity, cycle time reduction and working capital optimisation. Much of these achievements have been sustained since the inception of the Innovation Quality & Productivity program which began back then. This journey was described in the first book “Operational Excellence in the Pharmaceutical Industry”, with a description of the balanced approach in addressing waste through Lean, and variation through Six Sigma. The approach to Lean was developed and piloted in response to the business imperatives of the time, to drive improvements along the extended value streams of the strategic brands running through the API and Finished Product manufacturing network.