This Thanksgiving, We're Grateful for the Turkey Supply Chain

According the National Turkey Federation, Americans consume over 700 million pounds of turkey every Thanksgiving. And getting all that turkey from farm to fork is no easy task. 

As families across the country fill their pantries (and their bellies), here at Tive we're giving thanks to the hidden heroes that make Turkey Day possible: supply chain management professionals. The turkey supply chain is a prime example of the importance of maintaining constant visibility into the location and condition of vital in-transit goods. Not only is the turkey supply chain extremely time-sensitive (no one's going to buy a turkey that doesn't arrive until November 23rd), but it's also extremely sensitive to fluctuation in in-transit environmental conditions. 

To arrive undamaged, turkeys must be shipped within strict temperature bounds. In addition, they must be handled with care -- no one wants to buy a turkey that's been bumped and bruised along the way. So what is the modern supply chain manager to do when it comes to avoiding these in-transit issues? The key is visibility. 

With real-time location and condition tracking, meat processors and shippers can gain insight into exactly where their shipments are and how they are doing. Was a shipment dropped while being moved from the truck to the loading dock? Real-time shock sensing can identify exactly when and where the damage occurred. Did a refrigerated container malfunction en route? Pinpoint the issue and take proactive steps to mitigate the harm done with non-stop visibility into shipment temperature.

As we settle in for the holiday and set the table for friends and family alike, we give thanks for the supply chain teams and visibility tools that that it possible to bring turkeys, cranberry sauce, and everything else that makes Thanksgiving special to your doorstep. From all of us here at Tive, we hope you have a warm Thanksgiving with lots to be thankful for, full of the fruits of the modern supply chain.