Officials with department store giant Wal-Mart pride themselves in their ability to purchase prescription drugs globally. In an effort to keep competitive, Wal-Mart utilizes a high-tech system for sourcing these prescription medications. But in this case, the supply chain included illegal couriers, banned narcotics, and a Las Vegas based supplier.
Police found marijuana paraphernalia, two boxes of prescription narcotics, and a retail invoice for $30,000 in a vehicle bound for a Wal-Mart pharmacy in Cedar City, Utah. The drivers, working for ‘Nevada Courier’, who turned out to be in the U.S illegally, were then arrested on drug and immigration related charges.
Wal-Mart officials were in fact able to confirm that this drug shipment was overdue.
Supply Chain Shenanigans
High Tech Sourcing Turns Troubling for Wal-Mart
Trend Themes
1. Global Pharmaceutical Sourcing - Companies that specialize in the high-tech sourcing of pharmaceuticals globally will maintain a competitive edge.
2. Courier Services Monitoring - Technology solutions for monitoring courier services will become increasingly important to mitigate risk in global supply chains.
3. Supply Chain Transparency - Increased transparency in global supply chains through the use of technology will be crucial in preventing illegal activities and promoting accountability.
Industry Implications
1. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing - The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry will be disrupted by companies specializing in high-tech global sourcing and supply chain management.
2. Courier and Delivery Services - The courier and delivery services industry will see a rise in demand for technology solutions to monitor and ensure the legality of their services.
3. Supply Chain Technology Solutions - The supply chain technology solutions industry will see opportunities in developing solutions to increase transparency and accountability in global supply chains.