Managing the virtual company (with respect to agile manufacturing)

Vanguard Medica is a virtually integrated pharmaceutical company in which all development and specialised functions are outsourced to external suppliers. The company has no investment in its own research or development facilities. Vanguard comprises of a small core team of pharmaceutical industry professionals who are supported by a group of advisers that include the founding directors, consultants, lawyers and patent agents. Development work is performed by contract manufacturers together with pre-clinical and clinical central research organisations (CRO). The fact that we can use CRO in this capacity is a reflection ofthe dramatic improvements achieved in facilities, staffing and quality of work brought about in the last 5-10 years. If this had not taken place virtual companies would not exist. The article describes the management and operation of the company.