CC BY
128Russian Journal of Logistics and Transport Management, Vol.2, No.2, 2015
©Nikolay A. Slobodchkov and Maria Makarenko
Saint Petersburg State University of Aerospace
PROBLEMS OF QUALITY CONTROL DURING TRANSPORTATION
OF PERISHABLE GOODS
Abstract
Competition between different modes of transport requires the provision of delivery of perishable goods to consumers as soon as possible without loss and lowering quality. Therefore, in recent years, carriers are paying more attention to automation of the control of the perishable cargo during transportation. The traditional solution to the problem of temperature control in transport is, first of all, the use of stand-alone electronic recorders, which are discussed in the article. However, the application of these devices as monitors of the temperature and other parameters of isothermal space of vehicle implies the necessity of choosing an optimal placement of registrations or so-called checkpoints that require further research.
Keywords: quality control, perishable goods, transportation, electronic recorders.
Providing the population with the food is one of the priority tasks of any state, especially difficult it is for the Russian Federation with its size. Administering of transportation of perishable goods to various regions of the country thus is one of the most difficult logistic processes in the transportation process since these goods require continuous temperature and humidity control, and at the same time have predetermined deadlines in a transport chain limited by 'transportability terms'. Theoretical foundations of cold transport, the concept of continuous cold chain and logistic principles of shipping of perishable goods were first laid in the mid-8 Os of the twentieth century by Terterov et al. (1987). When choosing transportation means it is crucial that control over the conditions influencing the preservation of properties of the perishable goods during transportation be ensured.
Depending on the properties of the goods, methods of thermo processing and the mode of transportation, all perishable goods are conventionally divided into four subclasses:
1) Frozen - the goods, transported at a temperature of - 6 °C and below;
2) Refrigerated - the goods carried at a temperature of - 5....-1 °C;
3) Cooled - the goods transported at a temperature of 0.... 15 °C;
4) Ventilated - the goods carried without any specific temperature and humidity conditions, while ensuring intensive ventilation in cargo premises.
Goods of the first three subclasses usually conventionally unite in the class 'refrigerator goods', and goods of the fourth subclass - in the class 'not refrigerator goods', as the same goods can belong to different subclasses, for
example, meat can belong to the frozen or cooled goods, however, variety of transport characteristics leads to considering meat in each case as different freight, with different properties and, therefore, with different deadlines of 'transportability' and, respectively, have to be transported in different temperature modes and in various conditions (Efimov et al., 2014). Dairy products may also be presented in each subclass by absolutely different goods. In addition to properties of the goods, the terms of their transportation and the organization of operation of refrigerator modules will also be influenced by the season, when this transportation is carried out and, if to speak about the Russian Federation with its size, freight can be located during one transportation in different conditions (winter, transitional, and summer) and not necessarily in a proper order, and possibly several times, everything will depend on routes and responsible delivery periods (Terterov et al., 1987; Efimov et al, 2014).
Therefore, during the transportation of perishable goods, it is necessary to consider also climatic conditions of the area of loading and the presumable direction of transportation. Usually, there are allocated four main calendar periods: summer, winter and two transitional, in each of them the temperature conditions on transport modules will differ (Terterov et al., 1987; Dziuba, 1999, 2002; Efimov et al., 2014; Kostenko et al., 2009). Depending on the period the following aspects are chosen: means of transportation, the equipment of a rolling stock, establish admissible terms of transportation and so forth. So, for example, the cooled goods at low- temperature outside may require heating of air in cargo premises.
As per sanitary regulations, perishable goods require transportation in an enclosed container, strict control of temperature conditions, systematic sanitary processing, and the container cleanliness. Besides controlling of the temperature, humidity and ventilating conditions of storage and transportation, also, protective properties of the container and packing matter are important for ensuring safety regime, especially for perishable goods. According to the requirements established by standards or specifications, the majority of perishable foodstuff has to be represented to transportation only in tare. The tare has to be serviceable, strong, dry and clean, and without a strange smell (Expeditor-pro.ru, 2015).
The tare type, its parameters, appointment and specifications on production have to conform to the existing standards. The tare applied to the transportation of perishable foodstuff has to correspond to conditions of ensuring the safety of quality of these products delivered at the set temperature condition (Expeditor-pro.ru, 2015). Main types of the tare, applied to perishable goods (products) are wooden, cardboard and plastic cases; boxes from cardboard; barrels and flasks from metal, plastic and wood; drums wooden and plywood; bags from fabric, kraft papers, polyethylene, etc. Each of above the listed types of tare possesses the properties and the parameters of heat
conductivity and heat diffusivity which needs to be considered at the organization of transportations.
Transportation of perishable and especially perishable goods is made by all types of transport, in compliance with the rules existing within each type of transport on performance of these transportations:
1. Auto transport - 'Rules of transportations of perishable goods by the auto transport in the long-haul deliveries' (section 13 of 'The general rules of transportation of goods by the auto transport' with amendment of 21.05.2007);
2. The air transport - chapter 17, article 189-194 of the Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation of 28.06.2007 No. 82 'About the approval of the federal aviation rules ' General Rules of Air Transport of Passengers, Baggage, Goods, and Requirement to Service of Passengers, Consignors, Consignees';
3. Railway transport - the Order of Ministry of Railways of the Russian Federation of 18.06.2003 No. 37 (an edition of 14.09.2011) about the approval of 'Rules of transportations by railway transport of perishable goods';
4. Sea transport - the Order of Rosmorflot of 22.10.1996 No. 39 'About the statement and introduction 'Rules of transportation of goods in containers by sea transport' (Znaytovar.ru, 2015).
A specific aspect of the organization of transportation of perishable goods is that it is also necessary to control freight temperature before loading, after loading, along the line, before unloading and before placing the freight in a warehouse. Until recently control of observance of temperature condition along the line was possible only during performing transportations in refrigerator sections accompanied by attendants on railway transport and when performing of direct combined railway-sea transportation, and also when performing transportations in refrigerator containers or refrigerator ships during water transportation.
Quite frequently, in the course of transportation of food, it is required to control a certain level of relative humidity (fruit and vegetables, candy stores and bakery products, grain, etc.). With the invention of special sensors, which can control the temperature and moisture and sense violations of temperature-humidity conditions, and also keep and accumulate the received information, the transfer the obtained data in the real mode of time became available based on GLONASS system. These sensors are subdivided into loggers; mechanical recorders; thermo recorders; the systems of monitoring of GPS/GLONASS equipped with temperature sensors (Sosgps.ru, 2015).
One of the examples of such sensors is the thermo recorder 'DataCOLD'. The producer 'Carrier Transicold Europe' offers a model range of thermo recorders 'DataCOLD' that give out confirmation of proper temperature conditions. A distinctive feature of the recorders 'DataCOLD' is that they can be installed in any transport module. Although, since they are only compatible with
the data transmission equipment of the type 'Carriegor' its use outside the European Union is questionable.
The obtained data remain on a thermal paper and in the memory of the device. The power supply of the device is carried out by an onboard network of the refrigerator. Aditionally, it is possible to refer its high cost to shortcomings — the simplest 'DataCOLD' system costs 1200 USD without installation. Thus 'DataCOLD' can only work with binding to a concrete refrigerating unit, besides they are not certified for use as measuring devices on the territory of the Russian Federation (Reftrans.spb.ru, 2015).
Modification of 'DataCOLD 300' (Figure 1) (which doesn't have information exchange with the CARRIER unit) has 2 channels of sensors, 1 channel of registration of events, memory 512 kb (at least for 1 year for 2 sensors and 15 minute intervals of record), an interval of record can be established from 1 minute to 60 minutes, 4 keys providing access to all functions, also, there is an infrared port for transfer of data and control of parameters (Reftrans.spb.ru, 2015).
Fig. 1. 'DataCOLD 300' Device. Source: Reftrans.spb.ru (2015).
Like its competitor, it is possible to use the 'Thermochron' or 'Thermochron iButton' sensor, with manufacturer's designation of DS1921, developed and started in mass production in June, 1999 by the American company 'Dallas Semiconductor', since 2001 the 'Maxim Integrated' company. 'Thermochron' allows to register the temperature values, measured through certain preset periods, and to keep the received information in its own nonvolatile memory. In difference from 'DataCOLD 250', 'Thermochron' takes place in the little case from stainless steel, which allows this temperature recorder to withstand blows, vibration, to be steady against magnetic and electrostatic fields, and also to remain efficient against pollution or short-term immersion in liquid (Figure 2).
Fig. 2. Internal device and appearance of 'Thermochhron'. Source: Elin.ru (2015).
'Thermochron' is completely autonomous, economical unit, which does not require for the work of an external power source as it contains a lithium battery which provides the supply of all its elements. Timer-calendar allows allocating a time tag in compliance with each kept value of temperature.
Three modifications of 'Thermochron' devices, which have identical architecture and features of service, are produced, but differ in the range and the minimum gradation of the registered temperatures. Sensors work with the range of registration from - 40°C to + 85°C and sensitivity of 0.5°C or with a working range of registration from - 5°C to + 26 C and sensitivity of 0.125°C, provide the accuracy of measurement of temperature in ± 1 °C, the minimum time between counting of 1 min. and have the capacity for memorizing the results of 2048 consecutive events (Elin.ru, 2015).
Domestic 'EClerk-M' sensors of the 'Relsib' company (Figure 3) and 6Logger 100' (Figure 4) of the 6OVEN' company are rather competitive in comparison with the above-mentioned devices. The temperature recorder for refrigerators 'EClerk-M' unites in itself two devices: a portable measuring instrument with the function of a datalogger and an independent recorder with the function of a measuring instrument.
Fig. 3.'EClerk-M' Device. Source: Relsib.com (2015).
The device allows to carry out monitoring of temperature and humidity on loading platforms and in cross-docks (a kind of a reloading warehouse), and also during transportation of production in a refrigerator. Recorders 'EClerk-M' can be used as USB measuring instruments, thus drawing the function of temperature conditions online on a personal computer screen. The memory size of the independent recorder is 520 000 values; the autonomous work time reaches three years (Relsib.com, 2015).
The range of measurements and registration by temperature is - 40... +1200°C; by humidity: 0...98%. An absolute error on temperature measurements is starting from ± 0.2°C; on humidity measurements is starting from ± 2.0%. It has two channels. It may be used within the temperature range of - 40 ... + 70°C (short-term from - 50). The LED indicator works at a temperature up to 40°C. Moreover, it is very accurate (0.2%), and compact device, the beginning of the recording is started by the button or according to calendar time. Memory keeps registering until completely filled or cyclically.
The recorder of temperature and humidity 'Logger 100' is mounted for transportation by means of a frame in a truck or is located in a container with the goods. Measurements of microclimatic parameters are performed at the interval preset by the user throughout the whole delivery period of the goods. Recorders 'Logger 100' require no external power supply, because they are powered by a replaceable lithium battery, which is provided with the device. Battery service life spans from 1 to 3 years, depending on the frequency of registration and temperature of operation.
Fig. 4. 'LoggerlOO' Device. Source: Owen.ru (2015).
'LoggerlOO' allows to make measurements in a broad range of temperatures (from -40°C to +70°C) that allows to use it in transportation including the refrigerated and frozen production (for example, meat products, fish, semi-finished products, ice cream, etc.) (Owen.ru, 2015).
Using sensors during transportation of perishable goods allows to minimize the probability of violation of temperature and humidity conditions as allows the carrier to react quickly to malfunctions in the operation of isothermal transport modules. Currently, there are a limited number of scientific methods allowing to determine efficiency of use of specific sensors, or the necessary quantity for installation in in a module of the carriage (Efimov et al., 2014;
Kostenko et al., 2009; Elin.ru, 2015). Consignors and carriers choose sensors and their quantity depending on their own ideas of quality and reliability of the devices.
In this regard, there is a need for the development of methods for determining the efficiency of use of devices for monitoring and controlling of the preset temperature conditions. What is more important is that on the basis of the developed method it would be possible to offer a technique for making choice for a consignor or a carrier of a particular device, depending on routes of transportation, the used transport modules, the demanded accuracy of observance of temperature conditions, and also economic feasibility of their use.
References
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