Temperature visibility and intervention 
in the pharmaceutical supply chain: Ensuring integrity and safety

In the pharmaceutical supply chain, maintaining the appropriate conditions for temperature-sensitive products are paramount to ensuring their safety, efficacy, and quality. Ensuring temperature visibility and implementing intervention strategies are essential components of a robust supply chain management system that can mitigate risks and preserve the integrity of pharmaceutical products from manufacturing to patient delivery.

The critical role of temperature monitoring

Temperature visibility refers to the ability to continuously monitor and track the temperature conditions of pharmaceutical products throughout the supply chain. This visibility is crucial for several reasons:

As part of our Maersk Pharma Cold Chain Management Solution (P-CCM), we provide visibility while goods travel in our refrigerated containers. This is possible through our Remote Container Management (RCM) system. The data obtained from RCM is also used for related actions such as power-off time management, operational excellence and vendor management that helps safeguard medicines and ensure patient safety. The full visibility provided also enables shippers to initiate their release processes while the cargo is still in transit. This leads to decreased time-to-market and better inventory management.

Technologies enhancing real-time temperature visibility

Advancements in technology have greatly improved the ability to monitor temperatures accurately and in real-time:

At Maersk, we closely follow the developments in this space and work together with our supplier Maersk Container Industry to have the latest generation of technology applied to our reefer container fleet. In addition, with Captain Peter^TM, our digital visibility tool, we are able to integrate the data with the systems of our pharma customers. This enables true end-to-end visibility and reduces the number of systems customers must handle to check information. Captain Peter^TM is part of the customised solutions we offer under Pharma Cold Chain Management (P-CCM).

Intervention strategies for temperature deviations

Despite the best efforts to maintain temperature control, deviations can still occur. Effective intervention strategies are crucial to address issues promptly and minimise impact:

Intervention is an integral part and a key building block of Maersk Pharma Cold Chain Management Solution. Our integrator strategy, and full asset ownership across refrigerated containers and vessels, combined with the availability of temperature data enables our trained employees to quickly intervene in case of any deviations, ultimately safeguarding product integrity.

The impact of effective temperature visibility and intervention

Implementing robust temperature visibility and intervention strategies has several benefits:

Temperature visibility and intervention are critical components of the pharmaceutical supply chain. By leveraging advanced technologies and implementing effective monitoring and intervention strategies and processes, stakeholders can ensure the integrity of temperature-sensitive products. This not only helps in maintaining compliance with regulatory standards but also plays a crucial role in safeguarding public health. As the pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve, the emphasis on temperature visibility and intervention will remain a key factor in delivering safe and effective medications to patients worldwide. At Maersk, we support our customers to achieve that every day with our passionate and experienced teams on sea, on land and in offices across geographies.

Read more about our Pharma Cold Chain Management Solution