Richard Sanderson on Why Modularization Is Key to Pharma Construction's Future

Access Part 1 of this interview on comparisons between EPCM and more traditional construction systems.

In Part 2 of a two-part interview at INTERPHEX 2026, Richard Sanderson, Vice President in the Project Business Services Group, IPS, discusses the new era of Pharma construction, following a panel discussion on the deployment of lean, sustainable, and tech-enabled delivery platforms on large EPCM projects.

Sanderson emphasizes that proactive risk management is at the heart of IPS's approach to project delivery. "We have a very active risk management program at IPS whereby we're constantly trying to estimate and evaluate risks and identify risks and really understand what that could mean and anticipate those impacts early in the life cycle of the project so that we can discuss that with our clients,” he says, “and we can put in place appropriate mitigation strategies."

Central to this is the use of predictive controls and variance analysis, which allow for observation of troubling trends before they become costly problems and implement corrective measures in real time.

Sanderson also speaks to a broader initiative to strengthen and standardize project controls and management platforms through the newly initiated Project Business Services Group, an effort aimed at harmonizing the tools and processes used across its project portfolio.

Looking at the wider industry landscape, Sanderson acknowledges the extraordinary level of activity currently reshaping the pharmaceutical construction sector, with major companies announcing large-scale programs across the US. He points to the challenges this boom creates, particularly in regions without abundant skilled labor.

"We have to continue to innovate, and we have to continue to think about how off-site fabrication and modularization and some of those other lean project delivery tools can help with that," he says, noting that resource constraints in areas like Central Virginia. This area contains several large programs that are launching in close proximity, making creative solutions not just beneficial but essential.