Our global investment projects are the building blocks for innovation and sustainability
In a world where innovation is key, Boehringer Ingelheim is making significant strides through its Capital Expenditures (CapEx) projects. We transformed this reality into a video-game: Follow our animated CapEx figure on some of his global investment quests to see how we innovate healthcare through our global investment projects.
We also sat down with Dr. Ralf Kehlenbeck, Head of Global Project Management Office (PMO) of CapEx, who gave us more insight on these investment projects and how they're shaping the future of our company and healthcare for humans and animals.
Mission for patient convenience and accessibility @ Ingelheim, Germany
Focusing on eco-friendly medical research @ Vienna, Austria
Constructing the future hub for anti-diabetic treatments @ Yamagata, Japan
New mission dedicated to advancing animal health @ Athens, GA, USA
Ralf, can you explain what CapEx projects are?
Absolutely. CapEx projects are our investments in the future. They're not just about spending money, but about building and creating. I like to think of them as “seeds” we're planting today for a healthier tomorrow. For instance, consider our 'VISTA' project in Athens, Georgia. We're constructing a new 63,000-square-feet facility to increase state of the art laboratory space and bring additional research and development capabilities. This expansion will accommodate approximately 175 employees, enhancing our ability to innovate and develop new solutions for animal health. It's like watching a small seed grow into a mighty tree. Or the 'IBUKI' project in Yamagata, Japan, where we're building a new, modular production facility including an additional production line for anti-diabetes products. These projects are our way of ensuring that we can continue to innovate and deliver top-notch products to our patients.
How are these projects shaping the future of Boehringer Ingelheim?
Through our CapEx projects, we're not just building structures; we're shaping the future. Our LiL project in Ingelheim, Germany, is focused on linking development and commercial supply and providing launch capabilities for our upcoming liquid products. It's like creating a launchpad for innovations that will help millions of patients worldwide. In addition, we're supporting the sustainability goals of Boehringer Ingelheim through projects such as 'G520' in Vienna, Austria, where we're supporting our company’s aim of CO2 neutrality as well as the use of energy and natural resources. It's not just about growth, but growth that's responsible.
What challenges do these projects face, and how do we overcome them?
All big CapEx projects come with their fair share of challenges. Effective project management, cost and schedule controls, and stakeholder management are just a few. But the key to success is collaboration with partners, project tracking, and people management. We're using new tools and guidelines to support our project teams and our external partners. It's about ensuring that we're on track, on budget, and on point with our objectives. Overcoming these challenges is like solving a complex puzzle, and I must say, it's quite satisfying when all the pieces fall into place.
How do these projects benefit the communities where they are located?
Our projects are not just about us; they're about the communities we operate in. They create jobs and support local economies. We also set clear sustainability goals for each project, evaluating how we can reduce energy consumption, CO2 emissions, water usage, and waste. For instance, our 'G520' project in Vienna is using, among other, green steel, solar panels, and special sun protection windows to minimize its carbon footprint.
Can you tell us about the journey of the CapEx team?
Two years ago, when we launched the new global CapEx team, we started with seven big CapEx projects.. Today, we manage about 20. We've introduced new functions such as cost controls, scheduling, and contract management. We're now collecting and analyzing project data on a global level to build benchmarks and have transparent reporting. Our team is our best resource to make our projects successful.
What's next for CapEx projects?
We're just getting started. There are more exciting projects in the pipeline, and we are eager to continue our mission of building the future. We aim to explore new technologies which can help us to learn and improve such as digitalization and AI which can help us in storing and analyzing data. It's like we're on a never-ending journey of discovery and innovation, and I must say, it's quite an exciting journey to be on!