Agriculture Reference
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quality control actions should be taken. As a result, one can change conditions such
as temperature, storage time, and order picking procedures as well as moment of
positioning the product in the shelves (Schepers and Van Kooten 2006 ).
c. Product Quality Measurement and Prediction
Several techniques are available and in development that enable us to measure and
predict the dynamic quality development of fresh food products in the AFSCN.
They enable us to predict the ripening or quality decay development under differ-
ent environmental conditions, which allows the development of Quality Controlled
Logistics in fresh AFSCN and positioning of food in retail shelves precisely when
consumers expect and accept them. Provided consumer preferences (step a), chain
conditions are known, measurements are carried out at the CQPs (step b) and pre-
dictive quality models are available (step c) it becomes feasible to direct batches
varying in quality attributes though the chain in a way that all batches end up with
the same quality at the consumer. This is the essence of the next steps of QCL.
d. Logging and Exchange of Information
The fourth element relates to data logging and exchange of relevant information
with supply chain partners. The quality of fresh food products depends on its tem-
perature history, from production through distribution and storage to consumption.
Monitoring the temperature in the chain—as well as all other relevant environmen-
tal conditions—allows prediction of shelf-life if product quality models are avail-
able to replace the sometimes meaningless expiry dates on fresh produce (Bobelyn
et al. 2006 ). New technologies like RFID and GPS (global positioning system) pro-
vide innovative means to capture data. Next to product quality- and environmental
data also demand, inventory and supply data could be exchanged in the supply
chain. This facilitates advanced logistics decision making central in the following
two elements.
e. Local Dynamic/Adaptive Logistics and Quality Control
In the end, QCL comes down to adaptive control by supply chain stages based upon
customer wishes and current product quality, i.e. to change the flow of products and
environmental conditions to which these products are exposed to. Furthermore, new
stock rotation and order picking systems can be implemented by individual supply
chain partners, which are not based on First-In-First-Out (FIFO) or Last-In-First-
Out (LIFO), but on First-Expired-First-Out or Right-Quality-First-Out (RQFO). In
the case of FEFO, the products with the closest expiration date are advanced first,
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