Q: What temperature needs to be maintained for different product types?

Temperature requirements vary by product type. Indicative ranges for different industries are summarized below.

Vertical Frozen Chilled

QSR -- -4 oC to 6 oC*

Pharmaceutical -22 oC (vaccines) 2 oC to 8 oC

Meat & Poultry -20 oC --

Processed Food -18 oC --

Ice cream -25 oC --

Dairy -- 2 oC to 4 oC

Chocolates -- 16 oC to 18 oC

Retail -18 oC to -22 oC 2 oC to 8 oC

import containers with cooling systems made by industry leaders guaranteeing temperatures as low as -25 oC even when the ambient temperature is at +45 oC. These containers utilize 120mm thick PUF panels with PUF density of 38 – 42 Kg per sqm.

 Q: What happens in case of a vehicle break-down?

The first priority in case of a vehicle break-down is to ensure the safety of the cargo. Modern vehicles have different units for the truck and refrigeration and even if the truck breaks down, the refrigeration unit will continue to function independently.It is imperative to move the cargo quickly to a back-up truck (refer best practices in transportation) so that the cargo can reach its destination.Cold Chain’s trucks are constantly monitored by the local branches (utilizing advanced GPS tracking coupled with remote temperature monitoring) and a back-up truck is normally dispatched within industry accepted time limits of a break-down.

 Q: Why is a network important?

Although Myanmar’s highway infrastructure has improved significantly in the last decade, there are still occasions where a vehicle can meet with an accident or a break-down. A network enables the company to respond to any such eventuality promptly and deploy resources such as backup trucks, personnel etc. to resolve the problem.

 Q: Why is cold chain important?

Different industries require their raw materials and finished goods to be transported under temperature controlled conditions. This is necessary to preserve the integrity and quality of the overall product. Consider the illustrative example of a frozen or chilled food item as it moves from the field to the fork. The implementation of an effective cold chain solution minimizes loss of texture and flavour to produce and delivers fresh products to the end user both in and out of season. Other industries that rely on cold chain solutions for their products include Pharmaceutical, Meat & Poultry, QSR, Retail, FMCG & Dairy, and Paints.

 

 Q: How do you choose a service provider?

Myanmar has relatively under developed cold chain infrastructure and the service providers are primarily local or regional players. Companies offering these services need to have

 Proven track record

 Domain and technical expertise

 Risk mitigation strategies

 Trained staff

 Modern & young fleet of reefer vehicles

The logistics function must avoid:

shipment of vaccines by way of airports that lack cold rooms; consignments to the wrong party; shipment of the wrong vial sizes; shipment of the wrong quantity of vaccines and diluents; shipment of vaccines that are due to expire soon; arrival of vaccines on weekends or holidays; shipment of vaccines without: advance notification sufficient icepacks cold chain monitors documentation needed for customs clearance