How to Stand Out in a Company's Global Manufacturing Network.

The article examines how Pfizer's Puurs plant in Belgium distinguished itself within the company's global manufacturing network, ultimately being selected to produce the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA Covid-19 vaccine. It outlines a five-stage approach the plant's leadership followed: achieving operational excellence, developing capabilities for new products, specializing in complex sterile production, maintaining buffer capacity for responsiveness, and building a knowledge network with external partners and other Pfizer sites. This strategic focus on unique capabilities, rather than solely on production volume or cost, enabled the Puurs plant to secure its long-term survival and become a critical knowledge center within Pfizer's global operations. The case highlights how plants in high-cost, geographically distant locations can thrive by cultivating distinct expertise and collaborative networks.