4 Best Practices for Pharmaceutical Warehousing

Today, many people depend on one type of prescription medication or another; for some, multiple medications are a daily requirement. With such medications being commonplace, it is necessary to address their storage requirements. Because of this, proper pharmaceutical warehousing practices are critical.

To maintain the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, it is critical they are stored properly in warehouses. Many medications are sensitive to environmental conditions like temperature, humidity, and light. The mismanagement of these factors could lead to degradation and loss of potency.

In addition to keeping pharmaceuticals stored in optimal conditions for their preservation, it is also necessary to take countermeasures against contamination risks, such as those posed by moisture, dust, and microorganisms. 

Proper storage of such medications is essential for maintaining their safety and effectiveness and for complying with strict regulatory standards. Adhering to the guidelines of regulatory agencies such as the FDA and EMA helps avoid legal issues and potential recalls. Both of which could lead to substantial financial losses.

Best Practices for Storing Pharmaceuticals in a Warehouse

When storing pharmaceuticals numerous factors must be considered. Each on a case-by-case basis to ensure each type of medication is stored properly.

However, there are some general best practices that are also good to consider when storing pharmaceuticals to ensure their preservation. The following are some of the best practices that you can implement while storing pharmaceuticals:

• Form a suitable pharmaceutical warehousing storage plan

Since it is common for a warehouse to store different pharmaceuticals, it is essential to form a storage plan. 

You must know which drugs require a cool, dry place for their storage, a freezer, or neither of these things. If you start with a good understanding of these factors, you can plan accordingly.  

Having a solid plan for where everything must go is the only way to have your pharmaceutical warehousing run effectively. That’s why it’s crucial to choose the right 3PL provider. One that has a warehousing management system in place to ensure operations run smoothly. Additionally, make sure the warehouse’s handling staff learn this plan early on. Why? So they can quickly become familiar with its necessities.

• Check for damaged pharmaceuticals upon their arrival

Damaged pharmaceuticals can be dangerous for people to consume. Therefore each delivery at the warehouse must have the packaging thoroughly inspected.

When inspecting these pharmaceuticals, there are a few main things to look for. 

First, if you notice the presence of unidentified moisture, this could be a sign that the drug is leaking. Or, perhaps the drug has been exposed to a fluid that could compromise it? When either is present, it is good to remove it.

Unusual odour is another good indicator of potential issues. This may indicate that a shipment of pharmaceuticals is no longer safe.

Medications must be in proper packaging to maintain integrity. Medication outside of the intended packaging is deemed compromised.

Signs of pests, such as feces or scratches, are also indicative of a compromise. 

• Maintain the right pharmaceutical warehousing temperatures

Since pharmaceuticals are sensitive to temperature changes, it is important to track and maintain the storage temperatures for each.  

For instance, when insulin is exposure to prolonged heat, its efficacy is significantly reduced. This type of exposure will render it ineffective and potentially life threatening.

With such high stakes, it is necessary to have numerous climate-controlled departments within the warehouse. 

To ensure good pharmaceutical cold storage practices, make sure the doors to the cold storage areas always remain closed. This will prevent temperature shifts and keep moisture out. It is integral that all employees working in these areas are aware of this necessity.

Not only do these items require climate-controlled storage when they remain stagnant, but they also need such storage during transportation. 

• Utilize cross-docking

While some pharmaceuticals entering your warehouse may require longer-term storage, this is not always the case. Therefore, it can be helpful to utilize a cross-docking approach. 

This will improve efficiency and minimize the opportunities for issues to arise. Cross-docking is especially effective when it comes to medications that are in high demand.

How Wills Transfer Limited Can Help With Your Pharmaceutical Warehousing

If you are looking for a reliable warehousing company with an effective warehousing management system to handle the storage of your pharmaceutical products and maintain their integrity, look no further than Wills Transfer Limited.

At Wills Transfer Limited, we provide innovative logistics solutions to ensure the proper storage of pharmaceuticals in our warehouses. 24/7.

We use refrigerated storage when necessary and implement various processes and procedures to maintain the cleanliness and organization of these areas.

When you store your pharmaceuticals in our warehouses, you can count on us for top-notch inventory management, ensuring a bird’s-eye view of your stock levels at all times. We also offer a wide variety of other warehousing services that you can leverage, such as pick-and-pack services, kitting, and cross-docking. 

We would be happy to discuss the particular storage needs of your pharmaceutical products. After that, we can form and implement a storage strategy that is specific to their demands.

For more information about our warehousing management system, or to learn more about the various warehousing services we have to offer, call Wills Transfer Limited at 613-704-7549 or contact us here.