Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for Identifying Trade Barriers of Perishable Goods in Iran: Case Study of Bushehr

Foreign trade of perishable goods faces an environment full of uncertainties and depends on many different factors in its various components such as cold chain logistics requiring significant effort to maintaining of quality and reducing of costs and abating corruptions. Trade of perishable goods is an integral part of the cold chain with potential challenge source and one the facilitator part of these barriers is sophisticated reefer terminal. This study aims at identifying and assessing the cold chain challenges of maritime foreign trade of perishable goods in Iran. This study aims to be a future reference for more academic and professional research in perishable goods trade in the field of identification of refrigerated trade barriers and policy making in ports through examining the types of risks inherent in the various operational levels of perishable goods trade in port and developing specific risk mitigation strategy. Data on Bushehr Port facilities were collected and analyzed. First, the risk of perishable goods identified by using failure modes and effects analysis, then scored, and RPN (Risk Priority Number) was calculated for each one. The level of risk calculated with SPSS software and the identified items prioritized and analyzed. Results showed the most risks were related to the lack of standard refrigerated structures, disorderly frequency of vessel and shortage of reefer container. Results show that potential risk of perishable goods in ports is at critical level. Suitable and sophisticated reefer terminal of port as a link in foreign trade play an important logistical role. The need to detect barriers of cold trade, to develop refrigerated facilities, to commit to staff training and continuous improvement of software and hardware are recommended.