The smart way to manage the cold storage supply chain

Posted by Crystal Group on February 22nd, 2019

The cold chain management processes (quality system) or the cold storage supply chain are aimed at establishing processes to maintain product quality and ensure compliance with global regulations and industry standards for the storage of products, handling and distribution of temperature - sensitive products.The management of the cold chain includes all means used to ensure a constant temperature (between + 2 ° C and + 8 ° C) for a product that is not stable in heat (such as vaccines, serums, tests, etc.), from the time it is produced to the time it is used.

Storage

Ensure the certification of cold storage facilities and equipment when storage operations are concerned.

• Continuous temperature monitoring systems should be available that can keep track of changes in refrigerated storage temperatures.
• Anyone who works with temperature - sensitive products must pay attention to minor problems.
• A few degrees of temperature difference is all it takes to ruin certain items during loading or unloading.

Installation, Care and maintenance

Compliance with certain position parameters helps the refrigerator to function well

• Out of the sun and out of any heat source.
• The equipment should have a space of 30 to 40 cm to allow air to circulate and facilitate maintenance.
• Maintenance is essential to ensure that the equipment runs well, but the best guarantee is that the staff is trained, conscientious and stable.
• Horizontally installed (absorption models) ensure good cooling gas circulation. Use a plumb line or a level of the air bubble.
• A minimal amount of replacement parts should be available (glass, wicks, etc.). The personnel should be specially trained in cases of maintenance and small repairs; a cooling technician is required in the case of major repairs.
• Storage: Depending on the type of equipment (opening of the chest or front) and the products to be stored in it, specific rules apply.

In order to simplify maintenance and repair, managers and donors of cold chain equipment are advised to procure the same equipment types and models.

The cold storage supply chain is most important in supplying the vaccines to distant clinics in hot climates served by poorly developed transport networks. Cold chain logistics maintain a crucial role in such cases.

The best practices that come under cold chain management are:

• Warm solutions.
• Automatic energy savings.
• Controlling heat loss.
• Automatic palletizing.

Trained and experienced logistics professionals are critical for effective cold chain management. Given the product's perishable character, good cool chain know-how, strict monitoring, timely movement and suitable storage are highly recommended to minimize risk exposure, prevent waste and, hence, are cost efficient and achieve the goal of correctly vaccinating the target population.

Conclusion

Good Distribution practices (GDPs) specify the distribution of products that are sensitive to temperature throughout the distribution system (manufacturers, service providers and customers), according to specific temperature conditions, so that product quality, safety and efficacy are maintained during delivery. The cold chain management should therefore focus initially on developing and implementing the conformity processes for cold chain shipping and the (quality) management processes for cold chain management.

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