Warehousing is an essential element of the supply chain, and its significance increases when it comes to perishable goods. It is so because inadequate warehousing conditions decrease the products’ quality and shorten their shelf life. Thus, organizations should draw much attention to ensure that they store their goods properly. The given paper is going to comment on how tomatoes’ characteristics can influence warehouse design considerations and operations.
To begin with, one should admit that tomatoes are representatives of perishable goods. Consequently, the warehouse should meet the specific temperature and humidity requirements (Filina-Dawidowicz & Postan, 2016). It is so because increased temperature, for example, will result in the fact that the products can start spoiling soon. Furthermore, De Venuto and Mezzina (2018) indicate that light exposure is also significant because tomatoes can lose their taste qualities if they are stored in complete darkness. The product’s size also denotes that warehouses do not need to have precisely long or wide aisles.
It is also necessary to mention that tomatoes’ characteristics influence warehouse operations. On the one hand, it is reasonable to organize “the appropriate rotation of products in a warehouse according to the FEFO (first expired, first out) rule” (Filina-Dawidowicz & Postan, 2016, p. 148). It denotes that the warehouse should follow specific systems to identify cargoes that are going to expire earlier. According to Films Media Group (2015), it is possible to use robots for this purpose in the modern world. On the other hand, tomatoes are specific products, meaning that they require a gentle approach that is essential when it comes to perishable goods (Films Media Group, 2013). This information denotes that warehousing operations should reflect the products’ characteristics.
In conclusion, the warehousing of tomatoes offers significant challenges because they are perishable goods. Firstly, it means that specific warehousing design is necessary, including fixed humidity, temperature, and light levels. Secondly, it has been indicated that warehouse operations should also address the tomatoes’ peculiarities. It refers to the appropriate rotation of products that should be accompanied by a gentle approach. If these conditions are met, tomatoes will have longer shelf lives.
References
De Venuto, D., & Mezzina, G. (2018). Spatio-temporal optimization of perishable goods’ shelf life by a pro-active WSN-based architecture. Sensors, 18(7). Web.
Filina-Dawidowicz, L., & Postan, M. (2016). Optimal inventory control for perishable items under additional cost for deterioration reduction. Scientific Journal of Logistics, 12(2), 147-156. Web.
Films Media Group. (2013). Autumn: Supermarket secrets. Films on Demand [Film].
Films Media Group. (2015). Tomorrow’s food: Episode 2. Films on Demand [Film].