search.noResults

search.searching

saml.title
dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
Company insight


The implications of cloud-based IoT on temperature monitoring


The life science industry is always looking for ways to improve reliability and effi ciency across the supply chain. New technologies for tracking and temperature logging hold great potential, but which to choose? TSS have spent the past 20 years working to help companies deliver drugs safely to patients.


is understandably conservative in its approach to early adoption of new technologies, especially in areas such as logistics and distribution where reliability and predictability of operations is critical.


W


Items such as temperature loggers continue to use hardware formats including USB – universal, tried-and- tested and with relatively low failure rates. However, that reliability ceases to be a factor when users fail to upload the data to the system, causing gaps in the timeline, which can lead not only to uncertainty regarding the shipping condition of the goods and ultimately questions on its impact on patient safety, but also to the lack of data for insights that could improve supply chain efficiency. As an alternative, wireless technologies have come a very long way in a short time and their advantages in terms of efficiency, cost, and error- reduction now make them a compelling choice in many use cases.


Benefits of automated solutions Consider a typical example, where tracking of a pharma shipment is undertaken with a conventional logger. Upon the receipt of the shipment, a member of staff has to locate the logger, insert it into another device (typically a laptop, which might be in a different location) and manually upload the data. This physical process of uploading the data takes a significant amount of time per logger – multiply this by the number of shipments/packages and the hours


hile the life sciences industry is celebrated for innovation in drug development, it


add up. In addition to this, any system that relies on manual intervention has a greater potential for human error. People can get distracted, can be insufficiently trained on a system or be reliant on third-party software and hardware to transfer the data itself. Consider also that wireless systems allow for information, such as temperature excursions, to be automatically uploaded at key points in-transit, rather than just upon arrival at the ultimate destination – by which time there may be little that can be done.


While there are situations where a conventional logger is absolutely fit for purpose, it’s definitely the case that a wireless, automated solution has particular benefits; automated, reliable excursion reporting can contribute to reducing the costly waste of spoilt shipments, as well as eliminating delays in reporting while awaiting user intervention upon arrival.


The best wireless protocols So, of the most commonly used wireless protocols available, which is considered the best? Kjell Runngren, product manager at TSS, explains the options and their pros and cons: “At first glance, when we look at RFID (Radio Frequency ID), we see many advantages. It’s a trusted technology, which is low cost, reliable, low power and has existed as a tried-and-tested standard for years. However, the need for specific, proprietary hardware scanners makes it an inflexible choice and not a global viable option.


“At the other end of the spectrum, cellular/GPS logging allows for real-time,


World Pharmaceutical Frontiers / www.worldpharmaceuticals.net


continuous tracking of high-value shipments, which, in some cases, can be invaluable. However, the vast majority of shipments don’t need real time – just an update at critical points where processes for intervention can be established along the supply chain,” says Runngren. “On the downside, cellular trackers are power-hungry, often a more expensive solution, and have regulatory restrictions when it comes to air travel and won’t last through longer missions or when stuck at customs for long time (they are, after all, mini- mobile phones).


“So that leaves Bluetooth. The most recent version (BLE, or Bluetooth Low Energy) is a quantum leap forward, building upon the reliability of previous generations but adding increased range and minimal power consumption,” Runngren continues. “In addition, it is almost universally compatible and the infrastructure is globally available. Every laptop, desktop, tablet or phone of the past decade will almost certainly come shipped with Bluetooth as standard.”


The upside to all of this is simple. Automated, no-touch tracking and upload to the cloud of key shipment data, such as temperature logs and location, with low cost, high reliability with no need for expensive hardware or specialised personnel training. Traditional monitoring equipment has served – and continues to serve – the industry well, but in a large number of cases it might well be time to cut the cord. ●


www.tss.se 27


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53