Merck, a global pharmaceutical leader, is committed to innovation and operational excellence. Merck is one of the largest biotechnology companies in the world, and this semester, our team has had the pleasure of working with them. Merck’s purpose is to “use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world”. As a company, they value patients first, respect for people, ethics & integrity, and innovation & scientific excellence. To uphold their purpose and values, they focus on key areas like Oncology, Vaccines, Infectious Diseases, and more. Some of their top products include Keytruda, a cancer medication, Gardasil, the most popular HPV vaccine, and Januvia, a diabetes medication.

Merck is currently evaluating whether to enhance its existing long-term capacity planning and optimization system or adopt alternative technological solutions that might already exist in the market. While Merck has already identified a confidential vendor as a potential addition to its architecture, the company is interested in further exploring other tools and best practices utilized by global companies for supply chain optimization.

The Merck TMP team was tasked with analyzing Merck's existing systems and conducting in-depth research on emerging technological advancements in supply chain management to deliver strategic recommendations aligned with Merck's long-term goals. The team concentrated on two primary objectives: benchmarking operations research practices utilized by leading global pharmaceutical companies and evaluating cutting-edge tools and strategies for supply chain optimization. To achieve this, the TMP team compiled a list of potential vendors through a combination of internal and external interviews, supplemented by secondary research on industry innovations and competitor strategies. Additionally, the team developed a comprehensive Company Evaluation Criteria and Grading Framework, leveraging cost-benefit analysis to identify critical gaps and assess high-potential vendors. The project’s completion will equip Merck with actionable insights and well-founded recommendations to guide its decision-making process for enhancing its current supply chain management system.