Setting standards with Cool Chain Quality Indicators
Close co-operation between the Cool Chain Association (CCA) and Germanischer Lloyd (GL) has produced a new industry standard and yardstick for reliability, quality and proficiency in perishable and temperature-sensitive products (PTSP) logistics: the Cool Chain Quality Indicator (CCQI). This new industry standard combines the know-how and insights of first-class logistics companies with the certification expertise of one of the world’s leading globally operating classification societies. CCQI is an open and auditable industry standard that employs a benchmarking system to establish transparent and comparable quality measures – a world premiere. It offers guidance and support to continually improve and assess the logistics chain for PTSP
- carriers (airlines, road hauliers),
- handling agents,
- forwarders,
- perishable centers,
- airports and
- warehouses (long- and short-term cold stores).
Standards for further logistics links as e.g. for Ocean Transport are in preparation.
In order to obtain an independent performance assessment and a CCQI certificate, companies will be audited externally by Germanischer Lloyd Certification (GLC). Assessment will involve conformity check that includes “best practices” and a measuring procedure that quantifies process proficiency using a risk-based approach. A self-explanatory evaluation covers the aspects of:
- technical installations (including maintenance)
- training and
- methods applied
with the aim of maintaining a prescribed temperature and suitable environmental conditions for perishables.
Companies awarded a CCQI Certificate will guarantee customers seeking reliable and competent services a certified and quantified degree of proficiency. In the growing PTSP logistics market with a wide diversity of products and individual product transport requirements, CCQI will help CCA members improve their quality standards even further.
CCA and GL – the perfect combination for cool performance
The Cool Chain Association (CCA) was set up by the PTSP logistics industry in February 2003 with the aim of improving and unifying the global logistics standards for handling, transporting and storing perishables.
CCA is a non-profit organisation whose members are all representatives of companies or public institutions that are interested in creating an uninterrupted cool chain of the highest possible standard and in establishing clear and globally valid guidelines, rules and quality standards.
A special working group made up of CCA and GL members has defined these quality requirements so they can be laid down in a single industry standard. Compliance with these guidelines will be the precondition for sucessfull certification of companies permitted to use the CCQI logo thereafter. GLC, as the exclusive CCA partner, has been commissioned with the task of auditing and certifying members.
Germanischer Lloyd, one of the world’s leading classification societies, has been setting standards in engineering, safety and quality for more than 135 years. With over 2,200 employees working in more than 150 countries, GL can truly claim to have a global presence. The GL subsidiary Germanischer Lloyd Certification (GLC) specialises in wide variety of quality systems and industry standards. Its experts carry out audits and certify operations in the fields of quality, environmental, safety and risk management in accordance with national and international norms and standards.
GL’s know-how ensures that the new industry standard for cool chains will be audited and certified to the highest professional standards.
