Delivering Needed Pharmaceuticals Reliably, Safely and Sincerely to Medical Institutions
- Challenges Taken on by a Delivery Specialist (DS) Section Chief Who Supports Delivery Quality and Ease of Working -

Mr. Shohei Okuzawa, Section Chief, DS Team, A·L plus Co., Ltd. 

　Delivery drivers bring pharmaceuticals and other products to hospitals, clinics and dispensing pharmacies. Through these daily deliveries, A·L plus Co., Ltd. supports the healthcare delivery system. We spoke with Mr. Shohei Okuzawa, who gained experience as a delivery driver and now works as a section chief on route improvements and workplace environment enhancements, about his thoughts on the job and his initiatives to improve frontline operations.

Responsible for the Quality of Pharmaceutical Deliveries

I currently serve as the section chief of the DS Team^*1, which delivers pharmaceuticals and other products to medical institutions. I arrive in the morning, and my day begins with an inspection using a dedicated terminal to make sure there are no errors in the pharmaceuticals and other products to be delivered and their destinations. I then head out to our major customers, which includes hospitals, clinics and dispensing pharmacies. In the morning, I visit around 10 locations on days when I deliver mainly to hospitals, and 20 to 30 locations on days when I deliver mainly to clinics and dispensing pharmacies.
　Since pharmaceuticals have an impact on people's lives and health, accurately delivering them matters more than anything else. For that reason, I carry out my work in strict compliance with the established rules, from the inspection before delivery through to the confirmation at the time of delivery. For example, I comply with rules related to whether temperature control of the pharmaceuticals and other products during delivery is appropriate, whether the route to the destination is efficient and optimal, whether the delivery destination including the address is correct upon arrival at the customer, and whether the pharmaceuticals themselves and the quantities are accurate when we make the delivery, which we verify using a dedicated terminal. These are important rules from which we cannot deviate if we are to deliver pharmaceuticals and other products safely, reliably and with high quality.

*1 Delivery specialist (DS): Employees who deliver pharmaceuticals and other products to medical institutions on a daily basis.

Mr. Okuzawa rigorously observes the rules in order to deliver pharmaceuticals and other products safely and reliably  

Taking on the Challenge of Resolving Frontline Issues

When I first joined the company, I concentrated as a driver on reliably covering my assigned route. As I gained experience, however, I became a section chief and began to take part in overall delivery management beyond my own route. To maintain delivery quality while creating an environment in which our section members can work with greater peace of mind, I first listened to each and every driver. I gathered frontline feedback on questions such as “where are the most time-consuming parts of the work?” and “which routes have a concentrated workload?” and better understood the actual situation on the ground. Believing that some issues would not come to light from only the drivers' feedback, I also made use of delivery data and our vehicle tracking system^*2, looked at the figures and advanced my analysis toward the goal of making improvements.
　I then noticed differences among routes in terms of the workload and how well drivers could accommodate specified delivery times. For instance, the workload was high in areas with many time-specified deliveries. To resolve this, I worked together with our marketing specialists (sales representatives) and, carefully ensuring that the stable supply to our customers would not be affected, reorganized neighboring routes and reviewed our delivery system. As a result, we gained more leeway in accommodating specified delivery times, which also led to a leveling of workloads and a further improvement in delivery quality. In this way, improvement measures that we devise ourselves make it possible to deliver pharmaceuticals and other products at high quality, more safely and in an environment where it is easier to work. That gives me a great sense of fulfillment.
　In the past, when I was a driver devoting myself solely to my own delivery duties, there were times when I aspired only to "being able to make many deliveries" and "being able to finish the work quickly." Today, however, even more is required of us. In the delivery of pharmaceuticals and other products, what matters is delivering the ordered pharmaceuticals and other products to the correct destination safely and at high quality. To achieve this, it is essential to reliably follow the established rules, thoroughly confirm safety and make no mistakes. Precisely because I have experienced the front lines as a driver myself, I intend to continue working on route improvements and operational improvements to ensure the quality of deliveries of pharmaceuticals and other products, and to keep building a workplace where everyone can work with peace of mind.

*2 Vehicle tracking system: A system that identifies and manages, in real time, the location and operating data of delivery vehicles and drivers.

Mr. Okuzawa talks about his commitment to building a workplace where people can work with peace of mind in order to ensure delivery quality  

The Appeal of My Colleagues and Workplace

I believe that part of the appeal of A·L plus lies in the warmth of its people. When I face difficulties at work or offer ideas for improvement, my supervisors and senior colleagues listen and offer advice with genuine care. They often say, “Let’s give it a try first.” It is precisely because we have an environment that encourages us in this way that I feel I have been able to grow. For me, working at this company, the main appeal is that I do not work alone but can build a better delivery system in cooperation with those around me.
　On my days off I value the time I spend with my family, and lately I am also passionate about playing golf with my colleagues. I feel that the enjoyment of surveying the whole course and thinking about the next shot has something in common with the work of taking a bird's-eye view of my area and considering how to improve delivery routes.

A Real Sense of Growth at the Company

The work of a delivery driver goes beyond the transport of pharmaceuticals and other products. It is a very important job that supports healthcare and supports people's healthy lives. At A·L plus, once you have built up solid experience on the front lines, the company lets you take on not only delivery work but also operational improvement and management. For me, someone who enjoys engaging with people, enjoys working as part of a team and finds it rewarding to build better systems, this is highly fulfilling work. For me, A·L plus is a company that encourages us to take on challenges.

Mr. Okuzawa supports community healthcare through daily deliveries to medical institutions 

Supervisor’s Endorsement of Mr. Okuzawa

Mr. Morishita, Manager, Meguro Office: "He is a key person in front-line improvements who is trusted by those around him"

Mr. Hidenori Morishita, Manager, Meguro Office, East Japan Logistics Department, A·L plus Co., Ltd.

　Mr. Okuzawa possesses not only extensive knowledge of delivery operations but also outstanding communication skills with those around him. He builds strong relationships with DS team members, marketing specialists (sales representatives) and customers, and takes the initiative in resolving issues on the front lines. In improving delivery routes in particular, he tirelessly coordinated with members on the delivery front lines and also with marketing specialists (sales representatives). Today he is an indispensable key person supporting team operations at the office and the improvement of delivery routes.

Mr. Makino, Acting Team Leader, Meguro Office: "He is a person who sees things through to the end with a strong sense of responsibility." 

Mr. Masahiro Makino, Acting Team Leader, DS Team, Meguro Office, East Japan Logistics Department, A·L plus Co., Ltd.

I worked with Mr. Okuzawa at a previous workplace as well, and I feel that he has grown considerably since taking on the role of section chief overseeing the entire branch. Whenever an issue arises, he checks the site himself, considers improvement measures while listening to the views of those around him, and has the sense of responsibility to see the matter through to completion. In addition, his fine character enables him to build great relationships with anyone, and he has earned the deep trust of those around him. We expect him to remain at the center of the front lines and to lead the creation of better delivery operations.

 Members of the A·L plus Meguro Office, who support the enhancement of delivery quality and the improvement of the workplace environment

Notice: This document is a translation of the original Japanese document and is for reference purposes only. In the event of any discrepancy between this translated document and the original Japanese document, the latter shall prevail.