|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Temperature-controlled logistics governed by number of norms
|
|
Monday, 11 May, 2026, 14 : 00 PM [IST]
|
|
Anmolpreet Singh & Dr Neha Bajwa
|
Refrigeration is the process of cooling or lowering the temperature of a material or an enclosed space in order to preserve and prolong shelf life. It entails taking heat out of the area or material to lower its temperature. Food preservation, medicinal storage, industrial processing, and air conditioning are just a few of the uses for refrigeration. On the other hand, cold storage is a particular kind of refrigeration system intended to keep perishable goods at a regulated low temperature, including food, medications, and other goods that are sensitive to temperature. In order to maintain a continuously cold environment typically between below freezing and a few degrees above freezing, depending on the particular needs of the materials being stored cold storage facilities are provided with refrigeration units and insulated walls.
Working Principle
The refrigeration cycle, which includes a refrigerant's compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation, is the basis for how refrigeration units in cold storage facilities operate. This is a condensed description of how such units keep the surroundings constantly cool.
Compression: A compressor starts the refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant gas is pressurised by the compressor, raising its temperature. The condenser receives this high-temperature, high-pressure gas after that.
Condensation: Usually via a network of fins and tubes, the heated refrigerant gas in the condenser transfers heat into the surrounding air. Consequently, the refrigerant condenses into a liquid condition under high pressure.
Expansion: After that, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant travels via a throttling or expansion valve. This valve causes the refrigerant to expand quickly by lowering its pressure. Temperature drops and the liquid refrigerant partially transforms into a low-pressure mixture of liquid and vapour as a result of the expansion process.
Evaporation: The evaporator, which is situated inside the cold storage room, receives the low-pressure refrigerant mixture. The refrigerant evaporates into a low-pressure vapour state as it absorbs heat from the surroundings, including the objects kept in the cold storage. The evaporator and the surrounding area are cooled by this process.
Compression (again): After that, the cycle is restarted by drawing the low-temperature vapour refrigerant back into the compressor. The compressor repeats the refrigeration cycle by raising the vapour's temperature and pressure.
Guidelines
In order to ensure the safety and quality of perishable goods throughout the supply chain, temperature-controlled logistics are subject to certain rules and regulations. Here are a few cases.
Good Distribution Practice (GDP): GDP guidelines set criteria for the distribution and storage of pharmaceuticals, especially medications that are sensitive to temperature. The requirements for preserving the integrity of pharmaceutical items throughout last-mile delivery, storage, and transportation are described in these guidelines. They address things like quality management systems, people training, paperwork, temperature control, and monitoring.
National and international regulations: Temperature-controlled logistics for perishable goods are governed by a number of national and international regulations. For instance, the Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA), which contains measures for the safe transportation of food, including temperature control, is one of the regulations that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has put in place. Comparably, the pharmaceutical industry is subject to EU rules such as the EU Good Distribution Practice (EU GDP) guidelines.
International Safe Transit Association (ISTA): The ISTA offers rules for temperature-sensitive product packaging and transportation testing. In order to guarantee that packaged goods can endure the rigours of transportation and maintain the intended temperature range, these rules specify standards for packaging materials, testing procedures, and performance criteria.
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP): The systematic procedure of identifying, assessing, and managing risks to food safety is known as HACCP. The food sector uses HACCP concepts for temperature-controlled logistics. They entail evaluating the crucial temperature control points, putting policies in place to stop or deal with temperature deviations, and making sure that the supply chain is properly documented and monitored.
Industry standards: Associations and organisations in the industry usually establish rules and regulations unique to temperature-controlled logistics. The Perishable Cargo Regulations (PCR), for example, are published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and offer guidelines for handling and carrying perishable commodities by air, including criteria for temperature control.
Challenges in Warehouse Management
The effectiveness and efficiency of operations can be impacted by the many difficulties associated with warehouse management. Among the typical difficulties encountered in warehouse management are:
Seasonal demand and peak times: Warehouses frequently face peak times, such as during holidays or special occasions, which demand managing seasonal variations in demand and handling increased order volumes. Planning for extra capacity, overseeing temporary workers, and guaranteeing prompt order fulfilment during times of high demand are challenges.
Regulatory compliance and safety: Warehouses have to go under a number of rules and safety requirements, such as those concerning food safety, hazardous material handling, and occupational health and safety. For warehouse management, ensuring compliance, carrying out routine safety inspections, and putting in place suitable safety procedures are crucial concerns.
Workforce management: Workforce management is critical in warehouse operations. Challenges include labour shortages, seasonal fluctuations in demand, and ensuring proper training and skill development for warehouse personnel. Balancing staffing levels, managing employee productivity, and fostering a safe and motivated workforce are ongoing challenges in warehouse management.
Space utilisation: Making the most of warehouse space is a big problem. Effective space utilisation techniques, such as effective layout design, appropriate slotting, and dynamic storage solutions, are necessary to balance the need to store a wide variety of products while optimising storage capacity. Congestion, ineffective picking routes, and challenges managing inventory fluctuations might result from a lack of available space.
Inventory accuracy: Accurate inventory records are essential for effective warehouse management. Inventory inaccuracies can result from issues like inconsistencies between system records and real stock, incorrect product labelling, or mistakes in data entry. Customer happiness and operational efficiency may be impacted by these disparities if they lead to stockouts, order fulfilment delays, or surplus inventory.
(The authors belong to University Centre of Excellence in Research, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, Punjab. They can be reached at nehabajwa2765@gmail.com)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|