PT Anugrah Argon Medica (AAM) welcomed the Professional Pharmacy Internship Program (PKPA) students from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Gadjah Mada University (FF UGM) on Friday, November 10, 2023, at the National Distribution Center (NDC) AAM building, Jababeka Industrial Area, Cikarang, West Java.
A total of 45 PKPA students from FF UGM were greeted by AAM's President Director, Mrs. Juliwaty; Digital Transformation Director, Mr. Handi Halim; Head of Supply Chain, Mr. Rommy Firaldi; NDC Manager, Mr. Suyatno; Quality Assurance Manager, Mrs. Sulviria; and HR Business Partner Manager, Mrs. Lucy Christiani.
The students received various presentations, starting with an introduction to the company by Mrs. Juliwaty, a session on supply chain management by Mr. Rommy Firaldi, and insights into AAM's business-to-business digital e-commerce through the GPOS and GPOS Lite applications presented by Mr. Handi Halim.
Mrs. Juliwaty explained that AAM, as part of the Argon Group, is one of the largest distributors of pharmaceuticals, health products, and medical equipment in Indonesia, collaborating with numerous leading national and international principals.
AAM boasts a National Distribution Center (NDC) facility covering 10,000 square meters capable of storing thousands of pallets of products. All principal products, including ethical, consumer products, medical devices, and specialty items, are distributed from the NDC to AAM branches across Indonesia, from Aceh to Papua.
The NDC AAM is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including the implementation of the Oracle management system for real-time distribution monitoring, and various types of health product storage from cool rooms to cold storage. AAM also holds a WHO-certified quality management system and halal certification from LPPOM MUI.
"Talking about distribution is talking about storage capacity and our ability to deliver various types of products from one place to another according to the government's Good Distribution Practice standards," said Mrs. Juliwaty.
Mrs. Juliwaty added that pharmaceutical distributors could be an attractive career choice for pharmacy graduates. "Working in the distribution of pharmaceutical and health products allows us to apply our expertise in various areas, such as business analysis, quality management, and operations," she said.
After the presentations, PKPA FF UGM students were taken for a closer look at various facilities in the NDC AAM by Mr. Suyatno, exploring sections such as the ambiance room, cool room, cold storage, and witnessing the implementation of the Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) system. They also had hands-on experience with various applied technologies.
The Faculty of Pharmacy UGM expressed that the NDC visit was highly beneficial for the students, providing a tangible understanding of how the pharmaceutical product distribution system is well-prepared, the latest technologies used, and the challenges they may face.
"This is a very good activity for us because, in addition to theoretical knowledge, we can see various distribution systems and facilities firsthand. It will be beneficial for our students as it gives a real-world perspective, preparing them for the challenges ahead," said Mr. Apt. Arif Nur Ikhsan, M.Pharm., Sci., a lecturer accompanying the students.
The visit to NDC AAM as part of the PKPA FF UGM program is a manifestation of the ongoing collaboration between AAM and FF UGM. This two-day event took place from November 9 to 10, 2023.
On November 9, 2023, the PKPA FF UGM students received online presentations on quality assurance, covering Good Distribution Practice (CDOB) and Good Distribution Practice for Medical Devices (CDAKB), conducted by Mrs. Sulviria.
Through Argon Cares, AAM is committed to continually providing educational institutions with opportunities for collaboration to offer training, experiences, and knowledge sharing to enhance the competency of future pharmacists.