Quality management and financial sustainability in a pharmaceutical logistics company: A longitudinal analysis from 2012 To 2023

Bruno César Brito Alves, Gleicy Alves Tavares Cohén, Ursula Ghassan El Awar, Maria Pantoja Moreira de Sena, Clarisse Andrade Sales, Amanda Gabryelle Nunes Cardoso Mello, Jose Luiz Fernandes Vieira, Carolina Heitmann Mares Azevedo Ribeiro, Luann Wendel Pereira de Sena

Background: The implementation of quality management systems in pharmaceutical logistics companies plays a crucial role in enhancing operational efficiency and reducing financial losses. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the financial and operational impact of adopting a quality management system in a pharmaceutical logistics company over 11 years (2012–2023). Methods: To achieve this objective, a descriptive and exploratory study was conducted, employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Financial data, including costs related to the incineration and procurement of expired or damaged products, were obtained through the Protheus system. Results: The results indicate total financial losses amounting to R$ 3,097,950.75 over the analyzed period. Following the implementation of the quality management system in 2013, an average cost reduction of 20% was observed, attributed to strategies such as inventory rotation and specific team training. Qualitative analysis, conducted using the Ishikawa Method, identified inadequate inventory management and ineffective commercial practices as the primary causes of the losses. Conclusion: The study concludes that quality management systems play a strategic role in optimizing logistical processes and reducing financial losses, while also highlighting the importance of pharmacists as transformative agents in this context.