AstraZeneca: Embedding Partners
Into the Global Supply Chain

With over 1300 suppliers, AstraZeneca has a large and complex global partner network. However, legacy ways of working with its suppliers were undermining accountability and responsiveness during quality events.

The company decided to extend access to suppliers directly within the Veeva Vault Platform to improve efficiency, flexibility, and compliance. Being able to collaborate directly with partners on documents, audits, and quality events has led to fewer bottlenecks and faster cycle times.

Manual processes lengthen lead times

AstraZeneca’s partners carry out many product-related activities, including API and full manufacturing, testing, distribution, and logistics. Over time, relying on manual workflows and email communication with suppliers created several challenges:

• Lack of visibility and ownership hindered continuity
• Data duplication due to teams manually transferring data from email into internal systems
• Longer lead times for closing quality events (such as deviations) due to delayed supplier responses

Driven initially by a requirement to collaborate externally on audit findings, AstraZeneca decided to leverage Veeva Quality Cloud to embed partners into key quality processes.

Direct collaboration accelerates quality processes

By bringing partners directly into its systems, AstraZeneca has built trust and reduced friction when managing quality processes. It now uses Veeva QMS and Veeva QualityDocs to collaborate with its suppliers on:

• External audits — Observations from audits are sent directly to suppliers, which can then respond in the system. Internal auditors can review and request more information if needed.
• Document collaboration — AstraZeneca can draft, review, and approve documents such as quality assurance agreements with suppliers directly within Veeva QMS, eliminating the need for paper and email.
• Quality events — Suppliers can take action during investigations, if required following a deviation.

AstraZeneca can now grant partners time-limited access to complete specific tasks or activities. Allocating licenses in this way ensures data remains secure and partners have access to the information they need.

By working into the same system, both parties benefit from comprehensive, real-time audit trail visibility. Tasks are easier to monitor and accountability is clear even when specific individuals are unavailable. Ultimately, smoother partner collaboration prevents delays and accelerates overall cycle times.

Discover how sponsors and partners are using Veeva Quality Cloud to collaborate more efficiently and reduce turnaround times