Robert Pagan, Packaging Solutions Engineer at global life science logistics specialists, Biocair, explains that unique packaging solutions have been developed to transport anything from sensitive biological materials during a clinical trial to life-saving medicines and advanced cell and gene therapy treatments.
Biocair’s logistics specialists aim to provide customers with improved shipment visibility through tracking improvements, ensuring they receive their materials on-time in-full (OTIF).
However, some of the biggest issues that the life science industry needs to overcome to improve OTIF rates and reduce product loss are related to disruptions and delays in the commercial airline industry.
Improving collaboration with this industry will help to mitigate supply chain risk when shipping sensitive cold chain materials.
The air transport sector was severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, grounding 66% of global air fleets at its peak and reducing air freight capacity by 25% from 2019 to 2020.
According to Dan Morgan-Evans, global cargo director at Air Charter Service (ACS), capacity reduction resulted in air cargo rates increasing by 500%, placing additional pressure on the life sciences sector to balance both transit speeds and spiralling costs.1
And the issues are not just restricted to flight transit times. Consignments are most at risk before and during airline transit — with airport security checks having the potential to present several hazards for consignments.
There needs to be clearer communication, established standard operating procedures and swift customs clearance. These processes are vital to prevent fragile consignments such as cell and gene therapies from being X-rayed.
If X-rayed, this can potentially result in the materials being unviable, leading to serious repercussions for patients relying on life-saving treatments. Improvements to packaging, such as the inclusion of security seals and eye-catching labelling, only go so far in terms of preventing these types of exposure and potential damage to consignments.
One solution is ensuring closer collaboration and training in the short-term; but, there is a bigger part for data to play in terms of improving the decision-making process for logistics specialists.
Partnering with a specialist logistics provider that uses robust tracking technology to highlight delays in transit, as well as advanced condition monitoring technology enables a higher level of accessibility and reliability. This greater level of reliability and access to data across the industry is required to confirm the viability of a consignment throughout transit.
The technology does exist to provide this level of detail, which could help logistics specialists to intervene to prevent a consignment from being delivered that is unsuitable for use. But this type of technology is not always widely used throughout the industry.
So, what’s the solution? Using condition monitoring in conjunction with 5G devices and cloud-based technology is a game changer for the industry and for those patients relying on biopharma treatments.
Whilst resource and cost efficiency remain the priority for organisations, greater investments in these technologies and global uptake will enable the whole industry to accurately plan and identify the safest shipping routes for life science materials.
Thanks to increased visibility, it will also result in supply chain specialists being empowered. If a temperature excursion is at risk of occurring, the user can be notified so that contingency plans can be implemented ensuring the cold chain is not compromised.2
References
- https://theloadstar.com/air-cargo-rates-skyrocket-again-as-forwarders-scramble-for-capacity/.
- https://hubs.li/Q01DsS7F0.
