Case Study

UST Life Sciences team helps manage $1 billion product reformulation initiative

CLIENT

Our client is a prominent American consumer health company that is positioned at the intersection of healthcare and consumer goods. With a robust portfolio of well-known brands, the company prioritizes innovation, sustainability, and enhancing consumer well-being on a global scale. Operating across multiple markets, it continues to expand its reach, ensuring that its products are accessible and effective for a wide audience. In 2023, it achieved $15.4 billion in net sales, solidifying its status as the world's largest pure-play consumer health company by revenue.

CHALLENGE

Overcoming challenges in product reformulation amidst consumer pressure

When the client initially engaged with UST, they faced significant consumer pressure to reformulate their product lines to incorporate more natural ingredients. Growing customer complaints and requests for the removal of preservatives and certain fragrances necessitated this shift. The products involved included over-the-counter (OTC) items, Class II medical devices, and combination medical devices, which required strict regulatory compliance. The client needed to reformulate 12 products, impacting 36 stock-keeping units (SKUs). This urgent need for reformulation mirrored broader industry trends favoring cleaner, more transparent formulations, compelling the client to act quickly to maintain its market position and reputation.

The reformulation process brought forth various technical challenges. Developing new formulas had to satisfy evolving consumer expectations while adhering to rigorous regulatory standards. Coordination with packaging teams was essential to ensure product labels accurately reflected these new formulations. Additionally, extensive line trials and stability testing were necessary to guarantee product integrity and safety. This complexity was amplified by the requirement to navigate the client’s established change control process, necessitating seamless collaboration among teams from R&D, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, and marketing. This emphasized the need for meticulous project management to ensure a timely, resource-efficient, compliant implementation.

TRANSFORMATION

Driving successful reformulation with comprehensive project management solutions

UST delivered comprehensive project management support tailored to the client's reformulation initiatives, ensuring meticulous planning and execution at every project stage. Our experienced project managers established clear, actionable timelines that guided the reformulation process from inception to completion. Regular budget reviews were implemented to keep client leadership informed and aligned with financial goals, facilitating transparency and accountability throughout the project.

A unique aspect of UST's approach was our commitment to building strong relationships with both internal and external core team members. Recognizing that effective communication and collaboration are vital to project success, UST's project managers maintained open lines of communication, fostering a collaborative environment. This enabled the team to proactively address challenges, keeping the project on track and ensuring all stakeholders were engaged and committed to achieving the project's objectives.

Moreover, UST provided industry expertise in OTC and medical device reformulation, which is essential for achieving faster and higher-quality results. Our team's strategic oversight, combined with interpersonal skills, allowed us to navigate the project's complexities effectively. By aligning the technical and human elements of project management, UST played a pivotal role in driving the project to a successful outcome, meeting and exceeding the client's expectations.

IMPACT

Comprehensive project management expertise delivered a $1 billion initiative on time and within budget

The UST team leveraged its expertise in new product launches, compliance, and change control to significantly reduce the project's learning curve and accelerate deployment. The team’s specialized knowledge ensured adherence to the client's internal processes while meeting the high standards required for this $1 billion initiative, which was completed on time and within budget.

UST project managers developed a process improvement graphic that effectively reduced approval times and streamlined workflows, adding substantial value to the project. The team’s extensive industry experience and strong management skills were vital in navigating the complexities involved. By maintaining oversight throughout the project lifecycle and utilizing established networks, UST ensured all stakeholders remained aligned and informed. This proactive strategy allowed for early identification of potential issues, facilitating timely interventions to keep the project on track.

Ultimately, UST's comprehensive project management approach led to successful project completion and positioned the client for ongoing success in future initiatives.

Unlock your project’s potential with UST’s product launch and compliance expertise. Contact us today to discover how our tailored project management strategies can streamline your initiatives, reduce learning curves, and ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.

RESOURCES

https://www.ust.com/en/industries/healthcare-and-life-sciences

https://www.ust.com/en/biopharma-e-book

https://www.ust.com/en/insights/ptc-life-sciences-final-sep-25-2024.pdf