{"id":{"repo_id":"mit","oai_identifier":"oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/53543"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mit/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/53543","repository":{"repo_id":"mit","name":"MIT","base_url":"https://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Analysis of global channel costs for the pharmaceutical industry","abstract":"The pharmaceutical industry creates products which often have more than one supply chain channel, defined as a route through the supply chain network from sourcing to the end market. Each channel's specific cost characteristics are important to the pharmaceutical industry's ability to maintain positive profit margins while meeting high customer service requirements. Determining the optimal supply chain channel involves the analysis of fuel costs, logistics, taxes, wage differences, and many more. Additionally, variables such as time and risk significantly impact the total cost of a supply chain channel, but are extremely difficult to quantify. In this research, we identify the relevant channel costs and variables for the supply chain of a large pharmaceutical corporation. After identification, our study categorizes each cost based on level of measurability and causes of variability to develop a framework identifying the most relevant costs by four product types. We then analyze market forces that affect costs over a product's lifecycle. Finally, we develop an operational model for using the framework to compare costs across multiple supply chain channels and time horizons.","abstract_html":"The pharmaceutical industry creates products which often have more than one supply chain channel, defined as a route through the supply chain network from sourcing to the end market. Each channel's specific cost characteristics are important to the pharmaceutical industry's ability to maintain positive profit margins while meeting high customer service requirements. Determining the optimal supply chain channel involves the analysis of fuel costs, logistics, taxes, wage differences, and many more. Additionally, variables such as time and risk significantly impact the total cost of a supply chain channel, but are extremely difficult to quantify. In this research, we identify the relevant channel costs and variables for the supply chain of a large pharmaceutical corporation. After identification, our study categorizes each cost based on level of measurability and causes of variability to develop a framework identifying the most relevant costs by four product types. We then analyze market forces that affect costs over a product's lifecycle. Finally, we develop an operational model for using the framework to compare costs across multiple supply chain channels and time horizons.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Rimling, Eric C. (Eric Christopher)","Seoh, Wontae Thomas"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division.","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Mahender Singh."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009","date_published":"2009","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:03Z","subjects":["Engineering Systems Division."],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. 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They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53543"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.","Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-78)."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The pharmaceutical industry creates products which often have more than one supply chain channel, defined as a route through the supply chain network from sourcing to the end market. Each channel's specific cost characteristics are important to the pharmaceutical industry's ability to maintain positive profit margins while meeting high customer service requirements. Determining the optimal supply chain channel involves the analysis of fuel costs, logistics, taxes, wage differences, and many more. Additionally, variables such as time and risk significantly impact the total cost of a supply chain channel, but are extremely difficult to quantify. In this research, we identify the relevant channel costs and variables for the supply chain of a large pharmaceutical corporation. After identification, our study categorizes each cost based on level of measurability and causes of variability to develop a framework identifying the most relevant costs by four product types. We then analyze market forces that affect costs over a product's lifecycle. Finally, we develop an operational model for using the framework to compare costs across multiple supply chain channels and time horizons."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["M.Eng.in Logistics"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Analysis of global channel costs for the pharmaceutical industry"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Mahender Singh."],"dc:contributor.department":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division."],"dc:contributor.other":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division."],"dc:creator":["Rimling, Eric C. (Eric Christopher)","Seoh, Wontae Thomas"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2010-04-07T13:39:01Z"],"dc:date.available":["2010-04-07T13:39:01Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2009"],"dc:description":["Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.","Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-78)."],"dc:description.abstract":["The pharmaceutical industry creates products which often have more than one supply chain channel, defined as a route through the supply chain network from sourcing to the end market. Each channel's specific cost characteristics are important to the pharmaceutical industry's ability to maintain positive profit margins while meeting high customer service requirements. Determining the optimal supply chain channel involves the analysis of fuel costs, logistics, taxes, wage differences, and many more. Additionally, variables such as time and risk significantly impact the total cost of a supply chain channel, but are extremely difficult to quantify. In this research, we identify the relevant channel costs and variables for the supply chain of a large pharmaceutical corporation. After identification, our study categorizes each cost based on level of measurability and causes of variability to develop a framework identifying the most relevant costs by four product types. We then analyze market forces that affect costs over a product's lifecycle. Finally, we develop an operational model for using the framework to compare costs across multiple supply chain channels and time horizons."],"dc:description.degree":["M.Eng.in Logistics"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53543"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:publisher":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"dc:rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."],"dc:rights.uri":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"dc:subject":["Engineering Systems Division."],"dc:title":["Analysis of global channel costs for the pharmaceutical industry"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:03Z"}