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Abstract
Actors in the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain have to deal with particularities, like sustainability,
global sourcing, quality preservation and therefore the optimization of efficiency in their logistic
strategies. The consumer demand for fresh fruits and vegetables all over the year is a special
challenge of this chain, which strongly impacts all of the particularities. Hence, the adoption of
new technologies for improving information logistic can have important benefits to meet these
conditions. One important benefit is the collection and provision of information, which can have
an impact on the strategies process efficiency of enterprises. In this paper, different scenarios using
new technologies, like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and wireless sensor networks, for
optimizing the logistics strategies in the fresh fruit supply chain are discussed.
Introduction
Actors in the german fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain have to deal with complexities, like
sustainability, global sourcing and therefore the optimization of efficiency in their logistic strategies
and production processes. Optimization of intra-enterprise logistic processes is a key to meet
these complexities in an efficient and sustainable way (Fleischmann, 2008, Herter, 2000). The
consumers’ expectations for fresh, qualitative and various fruits and vegetables all over the year
are particularities, which are unique in the food supply chain. The procurement in the fresh fruit
and vegetable supply chain is globalised due to the worldwide production in different cultivation
areas and the consumers’ demand on a versatile product portfolio. Quality preservation and the
reduction of food losses during transports is one special challenge, which actors in the chain have to
meet. The exchange of product-related information between all actors can therefore have important
benefits for improving production processes. The evaluation of interactions between production
processes, information processes and technology is necessary for understanding the improvement
potential. In this paper, two scenarios using new technological concepts and their possible impact
on processes along the chain are discussed.
Literature background
The fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain is characterised by many national and international
small and medium-sized enterprises at the production stage. The middle stage is represented by
trade-oriented medium sized enterprises like cooperative production and marketing societies,
wholesalers and importers. The upper end of the chain is represented by large-scale retail groups,
Figure2.
Figure 2: Framework
Framework for decision-oriented interactions interactions
for decision-oriented between processes, information
between and technology
processes, (adapted and
information
from Lehmann et. al 2009 and modified)
technology (adapted from Lehmann et al., 2009 and modified).
Based on the complexities in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector, requirements for product-
related information, production processes and the supportive technology can be defined.
timely and efficiently. This framework is focussing on the interaction between technology, process
and information as well as on the consequences which occur by the availability of product-related
information. But not every technology is suitable or feasible for every production process due to
time criticality and feasibility as well as economic efficiency.
The following scenarios include particular problems in the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chains
as well as application scenarios for supportive technology and processes where product-related
information is needed.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is designated as a key technology for the Food Supply
Chain (Rizzotto, 2002). The development of this technology, the standardisation process and its
approval are in progress. However, the area-wide implementation of the RFID-Technology is still
at the beginning. A survey among small and medium-sized businesses on the potential of RFID-
Technology showed that approximately 70 percent of the respondents pointed out that high potentials
in container and cargo management, logistics, traceability of goods and cargo exist (FTK, 2006).
The inter-corporate application of RFID-technology includes network effects, if the same RFID-
Technology is used all over the network (Strassner, 2005). Currently, only a few inter-enterprise
logistics applications are developed and driven by large-scale retail groups like Wal-Mart, Metro
AG or Tesco.
Especially in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector, service providers for packaging can have an
important impact on the identification technologies, which are used. The biggest service providers
for reusable plastic crates (RPC), EuroPoolSystem and Ifco System, provide crates for fresh produce
in different sizes and with different identification technology on every crate. RFID plays in the
providers’ research and development facilities an important role, which is documented by different
press releases and publications (see examples from EuroPoolSystem, 2007; RFID Journal, 2007).
The estimated usage of RPC for fresh fruit and vegetables is around 35 percent (LZ-NET 2009).
Due to the economical and logistical benefits of reusable plastic crates, nearly all large-scale retail
companies have contracted one of these service providers and require the usage of RPCs by their
suppliers. This results in a raising rate of RPC usage for packaging fresh fruits and vegetables,
which makes the identification on crate base using the same identification technology along the
chain possible. For making reliable decisions on the marketability of fruits and vegetables, the
information on the pesticide status is required. Due to the missing information exchange between
the agricultural cooperative society and the distribution centre on the pesticide status a proactive
reaction on possible contaminations is nearly impossible for decision makers in the following stages.
Scenario 2: Transport supervision using Wireless Sensor Networks for Shelf Life
prediction
The distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables is a complex task. The transport conditions have to
meet the product requirements for quality preservation. The monitoring of transport parameters, i.e.
temperature, for perishable food products is legally required by national regulations (BGBl, 2007)
and different logistic service providers implemented several different procedures according to that
requirement. The commonly used temperature check at the delivery points in the chain just represent
the temperature of products at this point in time, but do not represent the transport conditions during
the whole transport way. Possible damages from deficient environmental conditions are discovered
in the goods inward and control process at the receiving actor.
Jedermann et al. (2006) introduced an autonomous sensor network which combines RFID, sensor
networks and software agents as well as transmission technology for transport supervision and the
evaluation of product quality according to environmental conditions. This approach is depicted in
Figure 4 as sensor network. The sensor network enables a software agent to calculate the remaining
shelf life of the product, which bases on a biological degeneration model. The information on the
quality status of products can support decision makers for optimizing their distribution processes
along the chain. During transport a near to real-time data transmission on truck identification,
Figure 3: Scenario overview on pesticide status using RFID for product identification
Figure 3. Scenario overview on pesticide status using RFID for product identification.
The scenario, which is depicted in Figure 3, focuses on the problem of information exchange
on the products’ pesticide status between actors. Production co-operations initiate pre-harvest
sample-based
EFITA conferenceanalyses
’09 by independent or certified laboratories. The laboratory result stays
671in
the enterprise, which ordered the analysis. The relation between box identification (BoxID),
product and its origin can be recorded at the agricultural cooperative society. Laboratory’s
results can be aggregated and added to this bundled product-related information. Retailers
Figure 4: Scenario overview Transport supervision
Figure 4. Scenario overview Transport supervision.
Jedermann et al. (2006) introduced an autonomous sensor network which combines RFID,
sensor networks and software agents as well as transmission technology for transport
supervision and the evaluation of product quality according to environmental conditions. This
product status, truck position and other parameters from the truck to a logistic service provider
approach is depicted in Figure 4 as sensor network. The sensor network enables a software
enable rapidtodecisions
agent calculateif problems
the remaining shelf life ofet al.,
occur (Jedermann the 2006).
product, These parameters
which bases on can abebiological
shared
withdegeneration
the goods sending and the receiving party for making the transport process
model. The information on the quality status of products can support decisionas transparent as
possible. A possible improvement of the business processes in the retailers’ distribution
makers for optimizing their distribution processes along the chain. During transport a near to centre can
be the implementation
real-time of a ‘First-Expired-First-Out’
data transmission logistic
on truck identification, model status,
product in ordertruck
to reduce food and
position losses.
other
Another benefit of transport supervision is gaining knowledge on the transports
parameters from the truck to a logistic service provider enable rapid decisions if problems position. Due to the
timeoccur (Jedermann
criticality et. al 2006).
in the distribution Thesefruits
of fresh parameters can be shared
and vegetables, withdelivery
the timely the goods sending
is an and the
mandatory
receivingforparty
requirement for making
an optimal the transport
further distribution process
along as transparent
the chain. The provision as of
possible.
informationA possible
on a
improvement
cancellation of the
of ordered business
supplies offersprocesses in the
the possibility for retailers’
re-arranging distribution centre
supplies and can be
to reduce out-the
implementation
of-stock situations inofthea “First-Expired-First-Out”
retail stores (Kambil, 2002). logistic model in order to reduce food losses.
Another benefit of transport supervision is gaining knowledge on the transports position. Due
to the time criticality in the distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables, the timely delivery is an
Discussion
mandatory requirement for an optimal further distribution along the chain. The provision of
information
According on a cancellation
to the german LebensmittelofPraxisordered supplies
Journal offersproblems
the biggest the possibility for inre-arranging
of retailers the food
supplies
sector and years
in the past to reduce
and out-of-stock
the predictionsituations
for 2009 inarethe retailtostores
related (Kambil 2002).
cost pressure, price competition,
freshness, product quality and the implementation of new technologies (LP, 2009). The evaluation
Discussion
of case studies on the implementation of RFID Technology show, that the technology is often
According to the german Lebensmittel Praxis Journal the biggest problems of retailers in the
usedfood
for intra-enterprise
sector in the past processes and the
years and to replace commonly
prediction for 2009 usedareidentification
related to cost technology
pressure, forprice
automation. Only few case studies are available where RFID Technology
competition, freshness, product quality and the implementation of new technologies is used in a chain wide(LP
application
2009). The context.
evaluation of case studies on the implementation of RFID Technology show, that
The the
provided examples
technology of new
is often concepts
used show that the application
for intra-enterprise processes and of RFID and wireless
to replace commonly sensorused
networks can have a possible benefit for decision processes. The mistrust
identification technology for automation. Only few case studies are available where RFIDand the lack of information
Technology
exchange (Bouma, is used
2001)inmake
a chain wide application
implementations context. task for actors in the chain. Even if
a difficult
necessary
The provided examples of new concepts show that theand
information is exchanged, the form of aggregation provision of
application of information is an
RFID and wireless
important
sensor networks can have a possible benefit for decision processes. The mistrust and thethe
success factor for feasibility and rapid response mechanisms in crisis. This refers to lack
timeofcriticality
informationin theexchange
distribution of fresh
(Bouma products.
2001) The timeframe where
make implementations these products
a difficult stay with
task for actors in the
one chain.
actor isEvenveryifshort and theinformation
necessary provision of is timely critical
exchanged, theinformation, like the information
form of aggregation and provision on of
information
the quality status isof an important
a product, for success factor
intervention onfor feasibility
occurring risksand rapid
offers response mechanisms
optimization potential for in
crisis. This
distribution refersattothe
processes thesame
timetime.
criticality in the distribution of fresh products. The timeframe
Conclusion
In this paper, we discussed two scenarios and their benefits for process-inherent decisions in the
fresh fruit and vegetable sector. Technology itself is able to alleviate product-related uncertainties,
if the product-related information is shared among the actors in the supply chain. The traditional
characteristic of a high degree of mistrust between the stages has to be lowered through trust
building arrangements and co-determination of actors with sharing of their collected information.
The enterprises in this sector are forced to change their information strategies due to regulative
requirements as well as for process optimisation and innovation in the context of value and supply
chain management. There are some challenging particularities in the horticulture sector, which
have to be met to get chain wide projects using technology innovations started. The two presented
scenarios are theoretical case studies and their implementation in the sector is just at the beginning
and evaluation of effectiveness has to proof if they can be the base for permanent changes in
logistic processes.
Acknowledgements
The paper has benefitted from discussions in the CuteLoop Project (www.cuteloop.eu).
References