Cold Chain Management - Creating a Sustainable Cold Chain Process Part 2

In the last part of our Cold Chain IQ interview with Jim Bacon, Senior Director, Global Demand Planning & Customer Operations, Talecris Biotherapeutics, Jim gives us his top 3 tips for creating a sustainable process.

For other parts in this series and for other controlled temperature management content please visit our cold chain management resource centre.

J Bacon: Communication, strong relationships, repeatable processes. Separately, these considerations are important factors but linking them together leads to sustainability. Develop strong relationships through a partnering / learning approach, establish clear lines of roles and responsibilities and escalation, all part of an effective communication policy, and create and execute a process that works and is repeatable. Make sure you can link the process and hand-offs through a mutually agreed upon set of SOP’s.

Pharma IQ: How do you see the Canadian cold chain landscape evolving?

J Bacon: Canada is and has been a leader in cold chain management of Pharmaceuticals by being one of the first nations to develop a guidance document (Health Canada). With temperature extremes, businesses must develop more robust time and temperature solutions to protect products. Being a close neighbour of the US and addressing the global security issues, Canada will develop its own cargo screening procedures and regulations that will need to be closely aligned with the cold chain guidance document.

Pharma IQ: Any final comments?

J Bacon: Your cold chain process is in essence a Risk Management process. Consider the alternatives, what are the chances of failure to your product, to your customers, if you have not taken the necessary steps to ensure a safe and secure transit of your products? Listen to presenters for best practices and methods including how strong relationships play a key role and how processes need to be repeatable and sustainable.

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