Pharmaceutical Industry

A Medical Logistics Hub Equipped with ISO 13485 Certification and a Bonded Warehouse

The Tsukuba Pharmaceutical Logistics Center, comprising Phase 1 and Phase 2 buildings, is a custom-made logistics facility designed, constructed, and operated in accordance with our clients’ requirements. By obtaining certification to the international standard ISO 13485:2016 and establishing a bonded warehouse, we have achieved the high standards of quality control and international logistics capabilities required in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. 

At the Phase 1 building, we carry out manufacturing operations such as distribution processing and provide logistics services compliant with the QMS Ordinance*¹. In addition, we support manufacturing operations conducted under pharmaceutical manufacturing business licenses. The facility is equipped with refrigerators and freezers, and in the event of a power outage, an emergency generator capable of operating for up to 72 hours helps ensure stable operations. 

Including the Phase 2 building, the Center serves diverse client needs as a hub combining custom-made flexibility, quality assurance systems, and international logistics functions.

Please refer to the following for information about the Center:

• Tsukuba Pharmaceutical Logistics Center Phase 1 Building
• Tsukuba Pharmaceutical Logistics Center Phase 2 Building

*1The QMS Ordinance refers to the ministerial ordinance on standards for manufacturing and quality control, which must be observed by marketing authorization holders and manufacturers. It is one of the standards for approval and certification of medical devices and in vitro diagnostic pharmaceuticals.

Responding to approximately 10,000 pharmaceutical orders per day with quality

In the online shopping logistics of a pharmaceutical manufacturer that receives approximately 10,000 orders a day, an "automatic packaging and invoice attaching device" has been introduced as material handling*1 equipment to handle large volumes of goods with consistent quality. In addition, in order to respond to the nature of "EC x pharmaceutical quality logistics," we selected and designed the center to be used from scratch, including the entry/exit system, security cameras, insect/rodent control, and air conditioning facilities.
In this way, we support the construction of optimal logistics systems that meet the needs of our customers.

*1 Sometimes abbreviated as "mate-han" in Japanese. It refers to the handling involved in the movement of all raw materials, work in process, and finished goods within production and distribution bases. An initiative to minimize the effort of moving/transporting goods.

Dedicated temperature loggers for each cool box provide temperature fluctuation data during transportation

We offer pharmaceutical transportation services according to the cargo type and controlled temperature zone of the products. Since 2015, we have been offering a refrigerated pharmaceutical transportation service using refrigerant and vacuum-insulated boxes, and provide temperature fluctuation data for each transportation by packaging a dedicated temperature logger in each box.

Realization of White Logistics by Establishment of Hokkaido Center

We established a new Hokkaido base for a customer who handles goods at two bases in the Eastern and Western regions of Japan. By delivering from the Hokkaido base, transport time has been reduced by one day compared to that from the Kanto region. As a result, the tight schedule of having the consignment company pick up the shipment received in the morning on the same day at noon, but we were able to change the schedule to pick it up the next day.

This has enabled us to contact the consignment company well in advance and to reduce long-distance transportation between bases, thereby realizing white logistics and contributing to our customers' BCP*1 measures.

*1 BCP (Business Continuity Plan) is a plan to minimize damage to business assets and enable the continuation or early recovery of core business operations in an emergency situation such as a natural disaster

Integrated logistics from domestic distribution center to import operations after arrival in China, storage, and delivery to medical institutions

We undertake integrated logistics for air transportation to China, from domestic logistics center operations to international air transportation, import operations and storage after arrival in China, and delivery to pharmacies, medical institutions, and pharmaceutical wholesalers.

The greatest advantage of using international (end-to-end) multimodal transportation for pharmaceuticals with a specified temperature is its intact forwarding which allows the cargo from the pharmaceutical warehouse in Japan to the airline's warehouse stay in the same vehicle, eliminating the need for unloading en route. This reduces the following risks

(1) Risk of temperature deviation due to exposure to outside temperature for more than a certain period of time
(2) Risk of damage during trans-shipment

Since our local subsidiary in China handles the cargo after arrival, post-arrival troubles can be avoided by handling complicated Chinese customs clearance in advance. We keep track of the location and condition of the cargo during transportation, and respond quickly to any unexpected events. Thus, we provide high quality pharmaceutical logistics services.

Winner of the Safest Logistics Partner Award for depot operation of SKYCELL AG containers

As a partner company of pharmaceutical shipping containers for SKYCELL AG of Switzerland, we are undertaking container depot operations and transportation services in Japan. The containers are easy to handle, do not require temperature control by the shipper, and achieve high quality with a temperature deviation rate of less than 0.1%. Currently, we have two domestic bases (Wakayama and Tochigi prefectures) and cover shipments throughout Japan. Based on our extensive knowledge and experience as a partner company, we can propose the best transportation method for pharmaceutical products.