The Integration of a Flow Model into a Stakeholder-Based Framework for Vaccine Supply Chain Design

Abstract

Many rigorous flow models have been developed to support the design of manufacturing supply chains. However, supply chains supportive of Access to Medicines (ATM), like vaccine supply chains, impose considerable additional challenges on this design process. The incorporation of a broader base of stakeholders delivers a balanced set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and substantially enhances the societal and human impact of the ATM supply chain service delivery. To evaluate such a set of KPIs, we emphasize the need of three distinct models: a flow model which relates the operational issues, a financial model which supports the financial side and finally a value model which considers the value-based or humanitarian aspects. These models are interconnected, dependent and together lead to a combination of KPIs against which the new design options or scenarios are evaluated. In this chapter we describe the flow model that covers the manufacturing part of a rotavirus vaccine supply chain and elaborate on how it is embedded in a stakeholder-based framework. We demonstrate the relevance of a vaccine manufacturer’s capacity utilization, total lead time and total supply chain stock as proposed technological or operational KPIs.