Playbook
Temperature Excursion Response in Transit.
A reefer drifts out of band at 2 AM. Whether that becomes a rejected load or a documented, assessed event depends on the next hour.
The problem
An excursion is a period when the product is outside its labelled temperature band. The decision rests on how long, how far out of band and which batch.
The signal to watch
Live temperature from the reefer or a portable logger against the product’s band, with the excursion’s start time and duration recorded automatically.
The playbook
- Open an excursion automatically when the band is crossed, with start time and batch.
- Alert the driver, the carrier and logistics; ask for the reefer setting and a photo.
- Route to QA with the duration and readings as soon as the band is restored.
- QA decides release, quarantine or rejection; record the decision with the trip.
- Count excursions per carrier in the scorecard.
How to measure it
Track excursions per 100 reefer trips and minutes out of band, by carrier and lane.
In SCM for Manufacturers this runs on the same record as every other step from indent to settlement. Related: reefer logger integration, pharma logistics.
Questions
Who decides what happens after a temperature excursion?
QA, using the excursion’s duration, readings and the product’s stability data.
Can excursions be prevented?
Many can: live alerts let the driver fix a door, setting or power issue before the product is affected.
See it on your own data. SCM for Manufacturers puts the plant gate, carriers, RDC stock, cold chain and OTIF on one control tower. Book a 30-minute working session with an engineer.