At a time when technological innovation and change management are key drivers of success in the healthcare industry, One company, Fresenius Kabi, stands at the forefront of this transformation.
Known for its expertise in pharmaceuticals, clinical nutrition, and medical technology, Fresenius Kabi has begun its journey to optimize its vast research and development (R&D) processes. From having over 42,000 staff across 160 locations, the company has integrated more than 1,700 R&D projects onto a single platform, fundamentally changing how it tracks and manages development projects across its various business units.
This initiative was crucial in an industry where cost-effective resource utilization is no longer optional, but a necessity. By prioritizing projects based on their value and being able to discontinue unprofitable ones, Fresenius Kabi ensured that its investments were both well-advised and productive.
The Journey to Uniformed Data
In early 2018, Fresenius Kabi recognized the need to harmonize its R&D processes globally. After some time, the final solution was the implementation of a company-wide Project Portfolio Management (PPM) tool. This is where Planisware Enterprise, referred to within the company as FiPS (Fully Integrated Project Steering) served to function as a central data hub for all R&D projects, integrating planning for time, costs, resources, and risks.
Dr. Andreas Heil, Senior Project Manager at Fresenius Kabi, highlights the transition from disparate tools like Excel and PowerPoint to Planisware, creating a single, unified data source.
“We got people to plan and track their projects only through Planisware, instead of using tools like Excel or PowerPoint. So the users have one source of data, that is used by everyone. This has the advantage that downstream processes such as the forecasting process run very centrally, and everyone can benefit from this one input mask.”
-Dr. Andreas Heil, Senior Project Manager, Fresenius Kabi
Understanding the importance of user adoption in such a significant transformation, the FiPS team at Fresenius Kabi took a gradual approach toward implementation. They tailored the tool to meet the specific needs of different business units, making it as effective as possible. Alongside this technical customization, the team also focused on change management.
They supported the transition by providing central contacts, key users, comprehensive documentation, and e-learning resources, ensuring that staff were well-equipped to adapt to the new system and facilitate the change in order to start using the PPM tool as soon as possible.
The Impact of Planisware Integration
No doubt, the integration of Planisware Enterprise has brought numerous benefits, including the elimination of redundant work and isolated IT solutions. Now, project managers have the advantage of tracking and reporting on their projects through a single tool, while portfolio managers gain a comprehensive overview of the total portfolio and the ability to create detailed reports.
Furthermore, an SAP interface enables the PPM tool to receive daily updates, helping significantly in the control of project costs. The centralization of data through the PPM tool has also caused forecasting to become more reliable, contributing to the overall efficiency of the company.
Fresenius Kabi's adoption of Planisware for Project Portfolio Management represents a significant step forward in the healthcare industry's approach to managing R&D. Their goal was not just about working smarter, but about leading the charge in healthcare R&D management, leading to major strides in operational efficiency and setting new benchmarks in project management, tying innovation and growth, hand in hand.
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