Enhancements to the Unisys logistics management system (LMS) allow airlines to better track and monitor sensitive air cargo such as dairy, wine, and flowers.
The new features were originally designed to meet the stringent requirements of the pharmaceutical industry, but can also be applied to a wide variety of delicate, temperature-sensitive cargo.
Temperature-sensitive cargo, such as perishable goods, is transported in containers that monitor key metrics such as temperature and dry ice levels, and must be kept within a specific range of temperature throughout the transport lifecycle, from when the cargo company accepts the goods until they are delivered.
Airlines are required to keep accurate records to show that correct temperatures have been maintained. Typically this critical data is displayed on an LCD screen on the container and recorded manually in a paper-based system.
The new product handling features of the Unisys LMS will automatically capture and store this data so that a full audit trail is available on demand. The new feature is expected to be available later this year.
LMS will use web services to communicate with networked monitoring devices on the containers to automatically transmit the log details, removing the need for manual data entry and improving data accuracy.
“Unisys LMS clients will have immediate access to a log of the key environmental metrics of sensitive shipments. This will help improve customer service and facilitate compliance. Electronic capture of this information reduces the potential for human error and is faster than traditional manual paper-based process,” says Unisys logistics solutions vice president Christopher Shawdon.
