Chill & Frozen Warehouse Stock Management

Optimising Warehouse Storage, Handling & Movement of Chill & Frozen Meat and Seafood Products

Chill and Frozen stock picking including the handling of fresh, chilled or frozen meat, seafood or poultry – be this for manufacturers, distributors or 3PL Logistics warehouse operations means adhering to some of the most unique and stringent handling challenges of any industry.

Unpreserved product has only a relatively short life storage life. Perishable products must be refrigerated, frozen, dried or cured promptly. The handling of such products is particularly prone to the growth of micro-organisms that can result in foodborne illnesses, or even death. Consequently, strict regulation and legislation must be adhered to.
 
 

Challenges in Chill Picking Meat and Seafood Warehouse Operations:

• Product Safety & Quality Demands
• Strict Regulatory Compliance
• Management of Variable Weight Items
• Serial Item Tracking
• Traceability Throughout Product Life Cycle
• Auditability
• High Volume Product Movement

 
 
Microorganism growth is a temperature-dependent process, temperatures must be maintained, and a full audit trail of temperatures kept. Such products are usually variable weight items until in retail packs.

Products can arrive fresh on mixed pallets, can be blast frozen mixed, sorted by SKU by Best Before Date or kill date, stored at -18°C or less, and shipped frozen or be tempered – or even microwaved – before shipping. And operators must, at all times, be able to demonstrate complete traceability throughout the entire process.
 
 

WMS Software Deliverables: 3PL Chill & Frozen Product Warehouse Operations

• Meat distribution software with full Real-Time Stock Traceability, Visibility & Control
• Blind Receipting Against ASN File
• Auto Receipt on QC Hold – Quality Inspection
• Serial Item Tracking of Variable Weight Items Throughout
• Mixed Pallets to Blast & Plate Freezing
• Extraction from Freezer – Pallet Topping Function
• Foreign Object Metal Detecting
• Product Tempering – Microwaving
• Product Weighing – Labelling
• Product Sleeving – Date Coding & Labelling
• BRC Accredited Processes
• Forced Air & Rapid Air Processes
• Co-Packing & Re-Packing
• DEFRA Approved Export Services Controls
• Customs Approved Bonded Facilities
• USDA Meat Import Services & USDA ID Sites

READ MORE IN OUR WAREHOUSE OPTIMISATION CASE STUDIES