Page 21 - Logistics News August 2016
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cold chain
cold-chain logistics, global cargo was a fairly straightforward advised to examine how their
owners understand that they process, with cargo owners product is physically handled
can benefit from lessons learned taking ownership of the product at all points throughout the
in the various domestic arenas and handling the downstream cold chain, including airports
when doing business in other process. and temporary dwelling areas.
countries. Service providers should be able
As lead logistics providers to describe container orientation
Increasing emphasis is being became more trusted and time-on-the-tarmac. What
placed on being certified for the business partners in the cold is the range of exposure to high
Global Food Safety Initiative – chain, manufacturers have and low temperature extremes?
an international standard that increasingly turned to them What about the hand-off to
will remove some of the risk, to seize more control over ground transportation? Finally,
and provide more protection. some of their market channels. cargo owners should know
When the shipper has the It’s a good business for 3PLs about possible delays at any
warehouse management and that have the special handling one destination and if the 3PL is
3PL on the same page regarding expertise, equipment and reliant on subcontractors.
international standards, they storage capabilities, and they
will have created a ‘sticky’ can command higher prices Remaining attentive to
relationship that will be nurtured than more commodity-type other valuable details like years
in business for the long-term. logistics. of experience in cold-chain
logistics and references are
Cargo owners should still Supply chain integrity is key also a must. It is suggested that
expect specialised service from to this piece of the pharma cargo owners ask for ‘vendor-
both new and existing players, transportation puzzle, which performed’ mapping studies
and while the door is by no means that every element must of transportation equipment
means closed to enterprising be secure, including tracking, and distribution lanes as well.
3PLs seeking a place in this tracing and packaging. These Putting together a questionnaire
market they should offer the 3PLs are heavily reliant on WMS on ‘deviation management’ and
same assurances that the more and TMS solutions, but the cost ‘relationships and Customs’, is
established companies have. is worth it for the cargo owner also a good idea.
and the consumer.
Processors and manufacturers But most importantly,
are taking advantage of a 3PL’s Transparent connectivity cargo owners should ‘trust,
cold-warehousing expertise. has become a new standard but verify’. Conduct the audit
At the same time, they also for temp-controlled shipments. as would be done for any
benefit from the door-to-door Supply chains are constantly in other critical supplier, validate
logistics offerings. Increasingly, motion, so having continuous responses to initial interviews,
more retailers are looking to visibility to each movement, and require follow-up to any
outsource their warehousing especially in the cold chain, has open observations to move
and store delivery distribution become a requirement today. forward with further qualification
requirements, which makes activities.
sense when the shipper can New and proprietary
conserve capital for operations advances in technology Cargo owners are advised
and expansion purposes. notwithstanding, cargo owners to inspect facilities themselves,
must demand a complete including cross-docking areas.
As costs and regulations overview of cold-chain 3PLs While doing this, cargo owners
continue to increase, one way to before committing to even a first should review ‘quality unit
offset these challenges is with load. Cold chain failures have responsibilities’ and level of
scale – with a larger platform it’s resulted in actions including oversight, while examining the
easier to invest in technology, litigation, product withdrawals, 3PL’s overall operation.
comply with any new laws, as postponement of clinical trials,
well as working with partners for delays in product getting to the Cold-chain 3PLs should
growth opportunities. market, lost contracts, costly be part of the overall
recalls, product loss, and damage supplier quality management
Take the pharma and to reputation. programme. Establish quality
healthcare markets as an agreements in tandem with
example: Before the advent As part of a basic check service contracts and enforce
of 3PLs, traditional wholesale list for assessing cold chain those with every 3PL used. •
distribution for biopharma providers, cargo owners are
August 2016 | Logistics News 19
