The below article comes from Richmond Cold Storage.
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Third party logistics providers offer a plethora of services to a variety of companies and clients on behalf of themselves. They have the capabilities to execute functions ranging from management, physical labor and systems technology. More specifically 3PL providers can carry out transportation, warehousing, distribution, packaging, cross-docking and inventory management.
There are two types of 3PL providers: asset-based and non-asset based providers. The differences are that asset-based providers own some of the elements, or assets, used in supply chain management. They may own and operate a distribution center or warehouse. They may also manage the trucking and freight services their clients need. On the other hand, a non-asset based provider does not fully own or operate any service offered to clients. This is a double-edged sword, while it gives them the freedom to select individual service providers based on the needs of customers; the operations are not done from the non-asset provider’s office or warehouse so there aren’t as many people overseeing that operations are carried out correctly.
Supply chain management offers many benefits to people in the production and manufacturing industries. Having even one key element of your manufacturing and distribution process covered by a logistics company greatly speeds up the entire supply chain. Not only do 3PL providers quicken the time it takes for an item to be ready for purchase or consumption; they provide greater efficiency and customer service to the businesses. Third party logistics and outsourcing companies take over responsibility of a company’s supply chain, and in doing so they build valuable relationships with their customers. The result is better efficiency and customer service, the two key components in running a successful, profitable business. For example, outsourcing warehouse and transportation functions offers the confidence of knowing that your goods will be stored and transported in a proper manner on behalf of the logistics company.
The future of 3PL companies continues to look bright. Many businesses will tend to prefer outsourcing all or some functions because it gives them more time to focus attention on the key elements of their business. One may not think that relinquishing some power over a company to a logistics provider will produce even better control, but that’s exactly what people find true. If you’ve chosen the right 3PL company, their expertise of the industry will ensure your supply chain is followed through and completed properly.
Showing posts with label 3pl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 3pl. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The History of Cold Storage and Refrigeration Systems
[Reprinted with permission of Richmond Cold Storage]
Even before mechanical refrigeration systems were introduced, people needed a means of keeping their food at safe temperatures. Most ancient cultures used ice and snow to keep food cool. Harvesting ice and snow during the coldest months was an important task for people, and what was more crucial was rationing the supply in warmer weather when it was scarce. Many cultures dug holes into the ground and lined these dugouts with wood or straw, and packed the area with snow and ice. Today, one would never imagine the hardship of preserving food, but this was the sole means of refrigeration back in prehistoric times.
The first ever record of synthetic refrigeration was introduced by William Cullen in 1750’s. An expert in the field of natural sciences, most notably, chemistry, Cullen, utilized a pump to create a makeshift vacuum, which made it possible to boil and absorb heat from surrounding air. Cullen’s seemingly small experiment produced a small amount of ice, but at the time his experiment was just that, an experiment.
Several years later, Ben Franklin and a fellow associate further researched and experimented with evaporation. Little did they know it would become a key process in the development of refrigeration, since all heat must be removed, or evaporated, from an area in order to keep cool. Together they learned that highly unpredictable liquids like alcohol and ether could bring the temperature of an object down low enough to freeze. After this notable discovery, many scientists began experimenting with refrigeration and ice-making techniques.
Refrigerators for household use were introduced to the market in 1915. However, it wasn’t until the 1930’s that they gained wider use and acceptance. During this time, the price tag of such a commodity started to decrease due to the implementation of Freon and other non-toxic refrigerants.
With the convenience of today’s refrigerator, most people do not realize how important the appliance is to their daily routine. Refrigerators are used to store any type of food that without such storage risks spoilage from bacterial growth. The household appliance maintains a temperature just a few degrees above the freezing point of water, similar to a freezer, which maintains a temperature below the freezing point of water. It is not until this essential household convenience breaks down that we recognize what it is like to live without.
The most significant impact of the refrigeration on today’s families is that we are much more able and apt to eat fresh produce and have more healthy selections of food than we would without access to such storage. In addition, people are able to buy food in bulk, or prepare homemade foods in larger quantities and store it in a freezer for a longer period of time. Regardless of what we store in our refrigerators, it is an important element in our daily functions, from morning to night. In this day in age, where we have modern conveniences to make just about any daily task easier, it is difficult to imagine how people once kept perishable foods safe to consume without the use of such an important device.
[Source of original article]
Even before mechanical refrigeration systems were introduced, people needed a means of keeping their food at safe temperatures. Most ancient cultures used ice and snow to keep food cool. Harvesting ice and snow during the coldest months was an important task for people, and what was more crucial was rationing the supply in warmer weather when it was scarce. Many cultures dug holes into the ground and lined these dugouts with wood or straw, and packed the area with snow and ice. Today, one would never imagine the hardship of preserving food, but this was the sole means of refrigeration back in prehistoric times.
The first ever record of synthetic refrigeration was introduced by William Cullen in 1750’s. An expert in the field of natural sciences, most notably, chemistry, Cullen, utilized a pump to create a makeshift vacuum, which made it possible to boil and absorb heat from surrounding air. Cullen’s seemingly small experiment produced a small amount of ice, but at the time his experiment was just that, an experiment.
Several years later, Ben Franklin and a fellow associate further researched and experimented with evaporation. Little did they know it would become a key process in the development of refrigeration, since all heat must be removed, or evaporated, from an area in order to keep cool. Together they learned that highly unpredictable liquids like alcohol and ether could bring the temperature of an object down low enough to freeze. After this notable discovery, many scientists began experimenting with refrigeration and ice-making techniques.
Refrigerators for household use were introduced to the market in 1915. However, it wasn’t until the 1930’s that they gained wider use and acceptance. During this time, the price tag of such a commodity started to decrease due to the implementation of Freon and other non-toxic refrigerants.
With the convenience of today’s refrigerator, most people do not realize how important the appliance is to their daily routine. Refrigerators are used to store any type of food that without such storage risks spoilage from bacterial growth. The household appliance maintains a temperature just a few degrees above the freezing point of water, similar to a freezer, which maintains a temperature below the freezing point of water. It is not until this essential household convenience breaks down that we recognize what it is like to live without.
The most significant impact of the refrigeration on today’s families is that we are much more able and apt to eat fresh produce and have more healthy selections of food than we would without access to such storage. In addition, people are able to buy food in bulk, or prepare homemade foods in larger quantities and store it in a freezer for a longer period of time. Regardless of what we store in our refrigerators, it is an important element in our daily functions, from morning to night. In this day in age, where we have modern conveniences to make just about any daily task easier, it is difficult to imagine how people once kept perishable foods safe to consume without the use of such an important device.
[Source of original article]
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