4 Ways Temperature Monitoring Systems Can Solve Logistics Problems

Temperature monitoring systems’ primary purpose is to monitor and control the temperature of perishable goods or temperature-sensitive products in controlled environments. This includes tracking and regulating the temperature of any product during storage, but also during transportation, ensuring it remains within manufacturer specifications.

Approximately 12% to 14% of the world’s food is wasted during distribution and storage, and some 20% of thermally sensitive products are damaged during transit, with most issues arising from temperature-related irregularities.

These numbers underscore the need for temperature monitoring and control in logistics, and if the issue is left unresolved or unaddressed, it could lead to monumental financial losses.

There are various types of temperature monitoring systems, but in the context of logistics thermometry and industrial automation, we’re typically referring to data loggers. Temperature data loggers are portable temperature monitoring systems that can record the temperature and monitor particular surroundings.

Thanks to the advancements in technology, temperature data loggers, like the KEYENCE’S NR-X or NR-500 multi-input data logger, can now track and record all the necessary data while the assets are in transit, ensuring that food in transport are secure or if any damage or deterioration of the product in transit was caused by unwanted temperature fluctuations.

Temperature data loggers are typically equipped with temperature sensors and the capacity to record data. However, some data loggers have a modular design, and their input depends on the processing unit the device is attached to.

To measure temperature, your temperature monitoring system would have to rely on digital temperature sensors, thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors, and thermistors, depending on the application.

The biggest challenges the logistics industry faces are compliance issues, damaged goods, traceability issues, and managing operational costs. However, some of these challenges can be overcome by implementing KEYENCE’s NR-X Series with the appropriate processing unit. Here are four ways temperature monitoring tools solve logistics problems.

Some of the most important features associated with the temperature monitoring system include automatic alerts for both high and low temperatures, paired with instant notifications via email, which would eliminate the need for constant checks and updates on temperature measurement.

A good temperature monitoring system would also have a control output for temperature control, making sure the temperature stays within the previously defined range. In that case, it would only inform you when the temperature reaches critical levels in case of malfunction.

Package-level monitoring is a great function as it allows you to measure the temperatures of individual packages in transit. This requires a data logger with several inputs, and fortunately, the NR-X Series data logger, equipped with NR-TH08 or NR-TH08P measurement units, provides up to eight channels for measurement per module. With one data logger, up to 576 channels can be logged.

Reliable analytics are also important because a faulty sensor could lead to false alerts and incomplete reporting data. False temperature measurements and triggers could easily affect your business, so it’s important to look for a system that has reliable temperature monitoring data collection.

Lastly, the user-friendliness of your temperature monitoring solution is important, as it allows even the average users to monitor, analyze, and make the most of the collected data. This allows you to streamline data analysis, saving both time and money.