When to accept or reject delivery? This article is about determining if there’s possible mishandling or damage to the items during transit. This is crucial especially when receiving fragile goods and perishable items.
For example, you suspect mishandling or temperature deviations during the delivery of your products. How do you determine that for certain? Should you thoroughly inspect each package and item?
Why straightforward inspection is not enough
A basic inspection may reveal some mishandling and defects in the package. However, defects or mishandling might only be apparent when the product is in actual display or use. For instance, you received sets of computer equipment from a supplier. You will then sell the computer products to your local customers. Initial inspection upon arrival of the packages revealed no defects. But when the computers are placed for display, customers noticed there are dents on the CPU and monitor (signs of impact and mishandling during delivery).
It’s even more important in delivering food products. Signs of spoilage might not be apparent at first because microbes haven’t reached the critical number. However, after a few hours, the unpleasant odours became apparent. Perhaps that’s because during delivery the temperature was not regulated properly. The conditions became a thriving environment for the initial bacteria to grow and reproduce.
Why reliable visual indicators are important
To be certain of whether there’s mishandling or not, the use of visual indicators is valuable whether to accept or reject delivery. You or your staff will be able to recognise early if there’s a mishandling or unacceptable temperature deviation during transit.
You’ve received frozen food products (e.g. seafood) from a supplier. The TimeStrip SeaFood Indicator is useful in quickly determining if the seafood shipment is exposed to unacceptable temperatures (e.g. at 3 ℃ or higher, Clostridium botulinum forms toxins much faster). Instantly, you or your staff can tell if to reject or accept the delivered goods.
Accept or reject delivery
There are visual indicators available that show if there’s been any mishandling (e.g. unacceptable level of impacts, vibrations, tilting) or temperature deviation (either lower or higher temperatures than the acceptable range).
Here at ShockWatch, we have a complete range of solutions for damage prevention of goods during delivery and handling. We have indicators for unacceptable temperature deviation, tilting, shock and vibration. Contact us today and let’s discuss how you can gain more control over the deliveries you received.
