Warehousing & Logistics in the Cold Chain

In general, warehouses are components of the supply chain used to store materials. Logistics is the movement of goods, cash, and information between various entities in the supply chain.

A key aspect of the cold chain is that the entire supply chain operates in a controlled environment, usually at 2 to 8 °C.

The cold chain is essential for pharmaceuticals, perishable food, ice creams, poultry, dairy, and meat. The temperature varies depending on the product being moved or stored, ranging from -30 deg C to +25 deg C.

Temperature management is the major challenge despite technologies being available to do it. The use of data loggers, GPS trackers, smart warehouse concepts, cold chain visibility, etc., is being used across the cold chain, and its usage depends on the product and market being serviced.

A differentiating factor for the pharmaceutical cold chain is that the products do not show any physical signs of damage unlike food, ice creams, fish and meat. We say that the chain is as strong as the weakest link. The weakest link in the cold chain is the last mile, as the controls from the manufacturer are lowered based on the gap in levels as it increases.

The stakeholders must take accountability for improvement in the cold chain usage and implementation.

The time has come when the technology is available, but its implementation and usage are questionable. We must educate our workforce and all other stakeholders to ensure a seamless cold chain that ensures a safe product gets delivered to us.