The global supply chain is complex: countless products are transported and shipped worldwide by air freight, lorry and ship every day. For example, more than 60,000 suppliers in 80 countries are involved in the production and transport of diagnostic tests and medicines for a pharmaceutical company alone. The situation is no different in other industries. Even seemingly simple products - such as king crab harvested in Alaska - pass through countless supply chains before they grace the plate of a seafood restaurant and are ready for the consumer.
However, the more complex global trade becomes, the more important control and accountability within supply chains becomes in order to minimise damage in transit and reduce costs. To save time and money, companies today not only need to know what is happening during the transport of their goods, but also under whose supervision. This is the only way to effectively prevent damage costs and delays within the supply chain.
The effects of shocks, vibrations and temperature influence product quality
A fully optimised and controlled supply chain not only makes it clear that damage has occurred, for example, but also when, where and to what extent this damage took place. In this way, any weak points in the supply chain can be detected and prevented during the next transport. For example, if companies know that damage has occurred on a particular leg of the journey or that temperatures have changed critically shortly before loading, they can work with their logistics partners to prevent future damage and minimise losses. Monitoring the entire supply chain, including location, carrier, route and time of year, helps companies to effectively reduce risks and optimise the entire supply chain.
There are many monitoring options that can optimise supply chains
There are many ways to monitor supply chains. Monitoring systems that measure shock, vibration and temperature fluctuations in equal measure are particularly effective and can help to hold the right parties accountable in the event of damage and involve them in optimising the supply chain in the future. Monitoring systems from the manufacturer Spotsee , for example, record both the temperature and stability of goods during transport. SpotSee's monitoring software also displays shocks of up to 65 G and unusual temperature changes on a map. This allows managers to know at all times what and where something has happened on the transport route and to focus on the responsible carrier.
Advantages of accountability
Monitoring systems and indicators ultimately increase accountability throughout the supply chain. The goal is to identify and fix problems by working with the right people to prevent the same issues from happening again during the next shipment. While real-time alerts allow immediate action to be taken to fix problems, monitoring with monitoring systems also helps to identify long-term trends and respond early.
There are many examples of the use of monitoring systems, but they all have the same result: less damage on transport routes. This means fewer warranty repairs, fewer returns and costs - and greater customer satisfaction. It has been proven that with the use of monitoring products, supply chain managers receive fewer complaints from internal teams and customers. And, importantly, the company strengthens its reputation and is perceived as a company that stands behind its deliveries and prevents damage before it becomes a problem for the customer.
Would you like to find out more about monitoring systems? Then we would be happy to advise you. Simply book our free consultation via our booking tool. We look forward to your questions.