Novel solutions supporting inter-organisational quality and information management

Abstract

Special Time Temperature Indicators (TTI) are able to display temperature histories by colors, so that the TTIs are able to provide information of the freshness of specific products. To use TTIs in different steps of the supply chain the following requirements need to be fulfilled: Kinetic models to predict the response of the TTIs as a function of time and temperature have to be available as well as warning and action control ranges at different handover points and the ability to translate the response of the TTIs into management and product information. For an economical use of TTIs, software solutions should be available to support the participants within the supply chain with management and product information. This information results from mathematical models that use the responses of the TTIs as input and it results from knowledge what is stored in databases. The objective of this study was to develop an internet based software solution that uses a TTI kinetic model as a practical tool to use TTIs in dedicated meat supply chains. In this study the OnVu TM TTI was used and a validated model to predict the response of the TTI as a function of time and temperature and that also shows a correlation to the kinematics of the spoilage of meat. By using the model within the internet based software with an interface to the response of the TTIs, the remaining shelf life of dedicated products could be easily measured at each point within the supply chain. Within this study the implementation within a poultry supply chain was investigated.