We propose and specify a hypothetical multi-enterprise supply chain application network with functionality for track and trace/recall, cold chain, inventory management, patient adherence, and identity management. Then we estimate the potential value of using such a network for an archetypal pharmaceutical manufacturer.
Traceability / Track & Trace
Product traceability and track & trace applications, technologies, processes, implementation, and strategies.
Geospatial Intelligence: Part Five – Traceability and Provenance Assurance
Traceability has become increasingly important in supply chains, whether it’s pharmaceuticals, food, lumber, electronic parts, conflict minerals, and other commodities. The goals of traceability are diverse, such as anti-counterfeiting, rapid response/recall when tainted goods are discovered, brand protection, fair trade, environmental protection, and prevention of diversion/grey market sales.
Geospatial Intelligence: Part Four – Asset Tracking and Management
Geospatial intelligence is needed to effectively track and manage mobile assets, such as vehicles, shipments, and various types of equipment. Here we discuss methods of tracking assets’ location, track and trace capabilities, and dynamic precise ETA.
Romaine Remains: Will the Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak Hasten or Hinder Traceability In Produce Supply Chains?
As the saying goes, “never let a good crisis go to waste.” Ironically, the industry’s response to the recent crises of E. coli contamination of romaine lettuce may delay rather than speed up implementation of traceability across produce supply chains.
Blockchain’s Role in the Produce Supply Chain: Part Five – Hybrid (On-chain + Off-chain) Systems
With today’s technology tradeoffs, the optimal approach for managing the produce supply chain appears to be a hybrid, combining blockchain technologies with an off-chain Networked SaaS architecture. Here we describe an example of an end-to-end (grower-to-retailer) produce freshness and safety management system that takes a hybrid approach with blockchain.
Blockchain’s Role in the Produce Supply Chain: Part One – Traceability and Blockchain
We discuss blockchain and three other approaches to achieving traceability, as the foundation for providing provenance assurance and improved recall capabilities. This includes a discussion of the impact of FSMA, industry standards, and networked SaaS systems.
Measuring Produce Freshness: Part One – Ensuring Delivered Freshness
Freshness ‘blindness’ causes a lot of waste in produce supply chains. Here we explain the role of the Condition-based Expiration Date–a critical element to solving this problem. We look at what it takes to create a reliable and accurate algorithm that models deterioration of different varieties of produce exposed to different temperature histories.
Pallet-level Monitoring for the Fresh Food Supply Chain
Freshness of produce is a key competitive battleground for grocers. The common practice is to monitor the temperature of the field, cooler, trailer, and warehouse. By instead monitoring the temperature within each pallet–from the moment it is picked in the field until the end delivery at the retailer–smarter decisions can be made, based on that information, and losses can be cut in half for both the grower and the grocer.
NetSuite’s Manufacturing Capabilities Boosted by IQity Acquisition
The recent acquisition of IQity is a major addition that adds a strong pillar to NetSuite’s manufacturing solution offerings.
PTC Windchill 11 – A Foundation for the Evolution of Manufacturing
The current transformation of manufacturing is being driven largely by the Internet of Things and smart, connected products. PTC’s new PLM release, Windchill 11, marks a major step towards a full-lifecycle, closed-loop PLM that enables and embraces this transformation.
The Coming Wave of Pharma Supply Chain Regulations: Insights from TraceLink NEXUS ’15
New regulations across the globe are coming into effect, requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, dispensers, and others up and down the chain to build serialization, verification, and traceability into the supply chain. At TraceLink’s NEXUS ’15 conference, we learned a lot about the impact of these new requirements, how companies are responding, and whether there is an ROI beyond compliance.