What Is Cold Chain Monitoring, and How Can You Cost-Efficiently Execute It?
Cold chain monitoring systems are critical in ensuring temperature-controlled products are kept in optimal condition. But what are cold chain monitoring and its associated tools? Here’s what you need to know about cold chain monitoring, as well as cost-effective techniques to use.
Key Takeaways:
- The cold chain encompasses multiple points where temperature excursions can occur
- Temperature monitoring devices empower companies to identify cold chain weak spots
- This data helps manufacturers and stakeholders formulate strategies to overcome these cold chain weaknesses
If your business product line is temperature-controlled, you must be equipped with the necessary tools and data to respond to a possible crisis. For one, you must ensure temperature consistency to maintain products’ condition as they move through the supply chain.
Maintaining this temperature consistency can be challenging, but this gets easier with cold chain monitoring. Read this guide to learn how to monitor the cold chain cost-effectively. But first, what is cold chain monitoring?
Cold chain monitoring
The cold chain is a network of refrigerated storage and transport facilities that keep perishable items within a specified temperature range. For example, COVID-19 vaccines require an optimized cold chain to stay effective. And the chain usually begins at the point of manufacture and continues until the product reaches the consumer.
Companies that deal with perishable goods must take great care to maintain the cold chain, as even a brief period of alteration to the optimal temperature range can damage or spoil the product. This is where cold chain monitoring comes in.
Cold chain monitoring leverages Internet of Things (IoT) technology to monitor the temperature of perishable goods throughout the supply chain. By tracking temperature data in real time, companies can take proactive measures to prevent product damage.
How does cold chain monitoring benefit companies?
Whether you run a food manufacturing company, a blood bank, or a hospital, you want to do everything possible to maximize the longevity and quality of your perishable products. Implementing a cost-effective cold chain monitoring system can help you do just that with the following guaranteed benefits.
1. Avoid costly product spoilage
If even a small percentage of your perishable products are damaged or spoiled, it can significantly impact your bottom line. For instance, you may lose a significant part of the stock or sales due to botched quality control. Product spoilage and the associated extra costs are avoided by monitoring the cold chain effectively.
2. Maintain quality and safety standards
Food and beverage companies, in particular, maintain strict quality and safety standards. Failure to do so can result in costly recalls and legal penalties. Cold chain monitoring helps ensure that your products meet all quality and safety standards.
3. Improve customer satisfaction
Products damaged during transport or storage due to temperature excursions will likely result in unhappy customers. For instance, if you run a pharmacy, spoiled vaccines may pose additional health risks to buyers and, worse, lead to lawsuits.
By using cold chain monitoring to prevent product damage, you can improve customer satisfaction and build long-term relationships with your clients.
How can the cold chain fail?
The cold chain is a critical, delicate process that may be subject to costly failures. And that is why using reliable monitoring methods alongside cost-effective technology options becomes essential. Here are the potential cold chain failures that you should be wary of.
-Lack of visibility
Any slight temperature excursion can cause irreversible damage to your products. Lack of visibility into the entire cold chain means you won’t be able to identify potential problems until it’s too late. Avoid worst-case scenarios by employing a comprehensive cold chain monitoring system.
-Poor data management
Failure to collect and manage data effectively when transporting or storing your temperature-controlled products can make identifying patterns and potential problems difficult. Fortunately, you can use a cold chain monitoring system like temperature data collecting devices to manage your cold chain with stronger oversight.
-Lack of actionable insights
Even if you have visibility into the cold chain and are collecting and managing data effectively, you may not take the correct action if you don’t have insights to act on. But you can be safe by using CBS Cryosystem Storage Solutions, which features low-level alarms to inform you when the temperature drops below the expected threshold.
These minor yet key storage considerations will give you the proper actionable insights into your cold chain.
Monitor your cold chain cost-effectively with Marathon Products
From manufacturing to transportation, customs, and import, and finally, to storage and distribution, there are many points along the cold chain where things can go wrong. And if they do, it can significantly affect your business – in terms of cost, quality, and safety.
Marathon Products offers a complete line of cold chain monitoring products and services to minimize damage to your items. Some of our products include data loggers, USB temperature sensors, and wireless temperature monitors.
We also provide various services, including installation, calibration, and training, all while ensuring efficiency and cost reduction. Our products are the perfect solution to monitor your cold chain cost-effectively for the following reasons.
-Accuracy and precision
Our monitoring systems are the perfect cost-efficient technology options that guarantee accuracy and precision to eliminate potential errors that could otherwise be pricy. For instance, our 2c\temp-Gen2 Temperature Data Logger features internal software with numerous features. These include start time delay, recording status, and high and low alarm values for maximum accuracy and pinpoint precision.
-Ease of use
At Marathon Products, we have a range of easy-to-use temperature monitoring products that even a novice can operate. For example, our ECHO, which helps you monitor temperatures while incorporating audio, requires a single click of a button to get started. These products ensure you get started immediately, eliminating the need for extra time and money to train your team.
-Computer-ready products
Besides offering a broad line of Bluetooth-enabled devices, Marathon Products also provides computer-ready temperature monitoring solutions. The MaxiThermal2 software used in our multiuse data collecting devices, temperature and humidity data loggers is available for Windows XP, 7, 8, and 10.
-Scalability
As your business grows, you’ll need a system that can scale with you. Our cold chain monitoring product line is designed to meet your growing needs. And since our solutions are customized, you can be sure that we will only recommend scalable products based on your growth potential.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive cold chain monitoring solution, contact Marathon Products today. We’ll work with you to ensure that your products are stored and transported safely and efficiently.