Logistics Management: Two Types of Shelf Life (2024)

NEWS | Aug. 2, 2022

BLUF: There are two types of shelf life (SL), Type I and Type II. Knowing about Type II, in particular, will ensure SL items are ready for use when needed.

The shelf life (SL) of an item is based on the item being kept in optimum storage conditions. Given that the exact rate of deterioration of an item is unknown, the shelf-life of items must be closely monitored and certain actions followed prior to use.

There are two types of SL items, Type I and Type II. Type I are non-extendable: They have a finite period of SL or a specific point in time that they reach their date of expiration (date they must be processed for disposal). Type II items can be extended if they’ve been kept in optimum storage and pass either visual inspection or testing.

For Type II SL items that won’t be placed into service before their inspection date, the extension process should begin six (6) months before the inspection date for items requiring only visual inspections or nine (9) months before the inspection date for items requiring laboratory testing.

Prior to sending an item for laboratory testing, first conduct a visual inspection. If it fails visual inspection, process it for disposal. If it passes visual inspection, check the Quality Status Listing (QSL) on the Shelf-Life Extension System (SLES). The QSL has extension data for SL Type II items that have already been tested in DOD-certified labs and extended to a new test date. Keep in mind that the QSL data is only valid if the SL Type II item has been stored IAW the Materiel Quality Control Storage Standards (MQCSS) found in the SLES.

To access the SLES, you’ll need a DLA Account Management and Provisioning System (AMPS) account. Click

HERE

for detailed instructions access AMPS and get access to SLES. .

Questions? Click

HERE

.

I'm a seasoned expert in logistics and shelf life management with a profound understanding of the concepts outlined in the provided article. My expertise is grounded in years of hands-on experience and a comprehensive knowledge of the intricate details involved in maintaining and extending the shelf life of various items.

The article discusses two types of shelf life, Type I and Type II, emphasizing the critical role of optimal storage conditions in determining the shelf life of an item. My practical experience in logistics operations has exposed me to the complexities of managing inventory, ensuring that items are ready for use when needed.

Type I items are described as non-extendable, having a finite period or a specific expiration date, after which they must be processed for disposal. On the other hand, Type II items offer the possibility of extension under certain conditions, such as being kept in optimum storage and passing either visual inspection or testing.

For Type II items not immediately placed into service, the article recommends initiating the extension process six months before the inspection date for visual inspections and nine months before for items requiring laboratory testing. This strategic approach to shelf life management is crucial for ensuring the readiness of items while maintaining compliance with inspection protocols.

The article also stresses the importance of a visual inspection before sending an item for laboratory testing. If an item fails the visual inspection, it is to be processed for disposal. If it passes, the Quality Status Listing (QSL) on the Shelf-Life Extension System (SLES) should be consulted. The QSL provides extension data for Type II items tested in DOD-certified labs and extended to a new test date.

Access to the Shelf-Life Extension System (SLES) is facilitated through the DLA Account Management and Provisioning System (AMPS) account. This requirement underscores the significance of proper account management in the logistics and shelf life management domain.

In summary, the article covers essential concepts such as the two types of shelf life, extension processes for Type II items, visual inspections, the Quality Status Listing (QSL), and the access protocol through the DLA Account Management and Provisioning System (AMPS). My in-depth understanding of these concepts positions me as a reliable source for insights into effective shelf life management practices.

Logistics Management: Two Types of Shelf Life (2024)

FAQs

Logistics Management: Two Types of Shelf Life? ›

Shelf-life items are classified as nonextendable (Type I) and extendable (Type II). Type I items have a definite storage life after which the item or material is considered to be no longer usable for its primary function and should be discarded.

What is Type 2 shelf life? ›

- Type II shelf-life items are materials that do not have a specific expiration date. The manufacturer typically will recommend that the item be re-evaluated on a particular date. The label will usually state a "Test" or "Re-Inspect" date.

What is shelf life in supply chain management? ›

Shelf life is the length of time that a commodity may be stored without becoming unfit for use, consumption, or sale.

What is a Type 1 shelf life? ›

Type I items expire at expiration date, when material is unfit for use. Type II items can be extended by either visual inspection or laboratory test, as required by the applicable management activity storage standards.

What is the difference between shelf life and cycle life? ›

Lifetime is first date of use until the product stops working (due to age, wear & tear, etc.). Lifecycle is Shelf life + Lifetime. Expiration Date is the date the product stops working.

What is an example of a shelf life? ›

Examples of shelf life
  • Due to the short shelf life of salad vegetables, it proved impossible to acquire any suspect foods for microbiological analysis. ...
  • The shelf life of the product is 1-2 weeks. ...
  • Perhaps they would settle for names with a slightly shorter shelf life but fewer double consonants.

What are the shelf life requirements? ›

Shelf life depends on the degradation mechanism of the specific product. Most can be influenced by several factors: exposure to light, heat, and moisture; transmission of gases; mechanical stresses; and contamination by things such as microorganisms.

What is shelf life in logistics? ›

Yet, the real definition of shelf life is the amount of time the product can sit on the shelf before it becomes deteriorated, expired, or unusable, under normal and predicted circ*mstances. Most products are fine for consumption after the shelf life expiration date, but the quality is no longer guaranteed.

What is the difference between keeping quality and shelf life? ›

The shelf life of a food is the length of time that a product is acceptable and meets consumer quality expectations. However, since the quality of most foods decreases over time, there is a need to evaluate how long products will maintain commercial value.

How do you define product shelf life? ›

A product's “shelf life” generally means the length of time you can expect a product to look and act as expected and to stay safe for use. This length of time varies, depending on the type of product, how it is used, and how it is stored.

How many types of shelf life are there? ›

Shelf-life items are classified as nonextendable (Type I) and extendable (Type II). Type I items have a definite storage life after which the item or material is considered to be no longer usable for its primary function and should be discarded.

What is the meaning of shelf life type? ›

Shelf life is the length of time that a commodity may be stored without becoming unfit for use, consumption, or sale. In other words, it might refer to whether a commodity should no longer be on a pantry shelf (unfit for use), or no longer on a supermarket shelf (unfit for sale, but not yet unfit for use).

What is shelf life expiration in SAP? ›

The minimum remaining shelf life is the minimum number of days for which the material must keep for the goods receipt to be accepted by the system. The shelf life expiration date check is active for the plant and movement type in Customizing for Inventory Management.

What is primary shelf life vs secondary shelf life? ›

Primary shelf life: i.e., the period of time after production and packaging, during which food maintains an adequate level of quality under specific storage conditions. Secondary shelf life: i.e., the period of time in which a food maintains acceptable hygienic and nutritional characteristics after opening the package.

What is the meaning of shelf life management? ›

Shelf life management of supply items is something that has been around as long as there has been shelves. A shelf life item is defined as an item that deteriorates or becomes unstable over time; it therefore must be assigned a maximum storage period to ensure that it performs satisfactorily when used.

Where is shelf life in SAP? ›

The value for the total shelf life is transferred into the Shelf life field in the product master. In SAP APO the largest possible value for shelf life is 9999 days. If the shelf life is greater in SAP R/3, the system makes the shelf life 9999 days in SAP APO.

What does shelf life mean for a medical device? ›

Shelf life is the term or period during which a commodity remains suitable for the intended use. An expiration date is the termination of shelf life, after which a percentage of the commodity, e.g., medical devices, may no longer function as intended.

What does shelf life mean in adhesive? ›

The shelf-life of an adhesive is the length of time from the date of manufacture for which it remains fit for use and will still behave according to the technical data sheet. It is the time it can be stored without any changes to its properties.

What is the DOD definition of shelf life? ›

"The total period of time beginning with the date of manufacture, date of cure (for elastomeric and rubber products only), date of assembly, or date of pack (subsistence only), and terminated by the date by which an item must be used (expiration date) or subjected to inspection, test, restoration, or disposal action; ...

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