A Profile is a description of the acceptance criteria that should be used when checking the status of a product or shipment.
PIMs always record the entire temperature history of a product or shipment, regardless of the type of product being shipped. When the shipment is received, the temperature data is retrieved and a Profile is applied to determine if the product is in good, bad, or marginal condition. An indicator then shows green, red, or yellow, respectively.
Profiles, typically, include one or more of the following:
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a temperature range that should be maintained during transport
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a maximum acceptable elapsed time.
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an indication of how sensitive the product is to temperature variations so that a Mean Kinetic Temperature (
MKT) can be computed.
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an ideal temperature range that the MKT should stay within.
The
PIM Global database has an extensive library of Profiles for produce and other perishable items. You can use these Profiles as they are or modify them to suit your specific needs.
Profiles are applied when a PIM is checked, but they can be specified by either the receiver or the shipper. If the shipper specifies the Profile, the receiver can read the PIM with "generic" Readers and Remotes. If the receiver specifies the Profile, the shipper can use any PIM without worrying about programming or special ordering.
