Driving Manufacturing DX: Paving the Way to the Factory of the Future

Osaka, Japan, September 5, 2024 - Takeda (TSE: 4502/NYSE: TAK) today announced an array of manufacturing digital transformation (DX) initiatives as part of its global “Factory of the Future” program.

Factory of the Future is a program that aims to transform each of our manufacturing sites in terms of organizational learning & change management, digital & automation, and enterprise excellence, based on roadmaps created according to their functions and pharmaceutical products.

These initiatives leverage advanced technologies such as AI, digital twins, and big data analytics to drive innovation across all Takeda manufacturing sites worldwide, ensuring a stable supply of high-quality medicines to patients as quickly as possible.

Focus on Manufacturing DX Globally

Takeda is promoting manufacturing DX across its 25+ global manufacturing sites^*1. By consolidating best practices and know-how on a unified global platform called “Global Market Place,” we are enabling efficient implementation of solutions while minimizing redundancy and cost. Our mission is to drive innovation by harnessing data and digital technologies to serve our imperatives of "Patient," "People" and "Planet."

Patients:

1. Predictive Plant

We aim to further enhance quality assurance and the stable supply of pharmaceuticals, focusing on both maintenance of production facilities and the creation of business value.


• Maintaining production facilities: We have implemented predictive maintenance by connecting real-time data collected from equipment to anomaly-detection models in the cloud to reduce unexpected breakdowns. This helps prevent deviations^*2 caused by equipment failures, ensuring uninterrupted manufacturing operations and minimizing the time and effort spent on troubleshooting and corrective measures.
• Creating Business Value: We aim to improve yield^*3 by utilizing big data collected from sensors installed across manufacturing equipment. By developing predictive models, we can identify opportunities for improvements in the manufacturing process.

2. Inventory Optimization Program

We are introducing the “Multi-Echelon Inventory Optimization (MEIO)” program to optimize inventory levels across our supply network. By considering demand patterns, lead times, supply variability, costs and service levels, MEIO allows us to swiftly adapt to market changes and unexpected disruptions. Future integration of machine learning is expected to further automate and potentially enable autonomous operations in our supply chain.

People:

We are enhancing productivity and transforming work practices through digital technology. Using VR- and AR-based training, we provide immersive learning experiences in virtual environments and practical instruction via augmented reality. This approach allows operators to train more efficiently and effectively in highly sterile, GMP-compliant environments with fewer resources.

Planet:

Using big data from our manufacturing facilities, we are optimizing operational efficiency and equipment performance, helping us monitor and reduce our environmental impact.

“In a rapidly changing world, continuous innovation is crucial to address current and future healthcare challenges," states Greg Timmons, Head of Global Manufacturing & Supply Japan. "We are accelerating our investment in data science and digital technology to enhance automation, AI development and standardization, data harmonization and democratization^*4, talent development, predictive capabilities, and innovative collaboration and governance. Digital transformation supports our employees so they can focus on value-creating tasks to ensure the stable and swift supply of medicines to patients."

For real world cases, please click here.

^{* 1} As of June 2024
^{* 2} Deviation from manufacturing or testing procedures, quality systems, application content, regulatory requirements, standards, trends, or other compliance requirements
^{* 3} Yield indicates the amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient obtained from the manufacturing process. It is considered one of the parameters indicating the normality of the process
^{* 4} Data democratization refers to processes and strategies that extend access and utilization of data broadly, enabling all stakeholders within the organization to use data for decision-making.

About Takeda

Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. As a leading values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, we are guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Our employees in approximately 80 countries and regions are driven by our purpose and are grounded in the values that have defined us for more than two centuries. For more information, visit www.takeda.com.

Contact:

Kumi Iiyama
[email protected]
080-5789-7742

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takeda’s future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. Without limitation, forward-looking statements often include words such as “targets”, “plans”, “believes”, “hopes”, “continues”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “ensures”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “would”, “could” “anticipates”, “estimates”, “projects” or similar expressions or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements: the economic circumstances surrounding Takeda’s global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; challenges inherent in new product development, including uncertainty of clinical success and decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products; manufacturing difficulties or delays; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the impact of health crises, like the novel coronavirus pandemic, on Takeda and its customers and suppliers, including foreign governments in countries in which Takeda operates, or on other facets of its business; the timing and impact of post-merger integration efforts with acquired companies; the ability to divest assets that are not core to Takeda’s operations and the timing of any such divestment(s); and other factors identified in Takeda’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takeda’s other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takeda’s website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/sec-filings/ or at www.sec.gov. Takeda does not undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results or statements of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast, guarantee or projection of Takeda’s future results.