More and more companies are using their warehouse management software systems to accurately keep track of temperature for perishable cargo. According to Anthea van Breemen of Macro 2000, providers of a range of software for warehouse management, this is especially the case for companies that store goods at specific temperatures. “The arrival temperature and the dispatch temperature are recorded. This information is printed on all documentation and is available on the system for later enquiries. The same goes for goods with expiry dates and production batch numbers, together with any other data that is specific to the pallet, drum or unit on which it will eventually be dispatched,” she explained. Effectively this allows the warehouse to pick and dispatch very specific pallets for customers. “This, together with a first in, first out principle ensures stock rotation and that all goods are dispatched before the expiry date.” Van Breemen said this process was often supported by a stock listing by expiry date report. “Often the ‘dispatch by’ date is some time before the expiry date, and the warehouse can be set up to control stock by this ‘dispatch by’ date for dispatches as opposed to the expiry date of the product,” she said. “With perishables there are strict controls by, for example, vet or customs inspection on full containers. The stock from these containers may not be moved from the warehouse until the inspector has cleared the goods.” With this in mind the company has developed a system that has a special facility that allows a whole receipt, by container, to be placed on hold within the system. This prevents the goods from being picked until they are moved from a vet hold or customs inspection hold status to a vet release or customs release status. “By using a good warehouse management system companies can offer product quality and so build confidence in their handling of perishable products,” she said. INSERT & CAPTION First in, first out principle ensures all goods are dispatched before the expiry date. – Anthea van Breemen
