Each box goes on a journey as it moves from your packaging line on to the various stops of the distribution channel and all the way to the end user. Inadequacies and inefficiencies at any point can affect a company’s bottom line.
PCA offers packaging assessments that evaluate four key areas:
- Performance
- Supply chain integration
- Cost management
- Sustainability
Through these comprehensive assessments, we identify areas for improvement that can help you ensure that your packaging is ideally suited to your application and overall needs while helping you streamline efficiencies.
Addressing Performance Issues
Is your product getting damaged at any point in the distribution cycle? PCA begins by performing a thorough evaluation of everything from the box and its specifications through its touchpoints to the end user. We’ll assess the box in its entirety, from its dimensions and board grade to its weight with the product. We factor in every detail that can affect performance. Next, we’ll examine all the box’s touchpoints including case erecting, shipping and warehousing to determine where in the distribution cycle the box is experiencing damage. We then consider the unitization and environmental factors that a package encounters on its journey. Every one of these variables can affect the performance of a box, and it’s important to understand each of them before making a change to your packaging.
Once we gain a thorough understanding of your package and its performance challenges, we will make recommendations that can help prevent damage. These may include changing your board grade to better accommodate your shipping variables or even changing your box style to better suit your application.
Poor Supply Chain Integration
Product damage and performance is not the only reason to conduct a packaging assessment. Inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement can be found in how a package moves through a customer’s packaging operation. For instance, maybe the package is ergonomically challenging to set up, pack or seal, which can lead to longer production times. Or perhaps the package isn’t running efficiently on automated equipment. This can be caused by a number of factors, including box setup machines that aren’t ideally configured to the box’s specifications.
Through a packaging assessment, PCA can also analyze how a box moves through the supply chain. Through years of experience and expertise, we identify some of the more common issues that can lead to inefficiencies. By analyzing how your box moves through the supply chain and making modifications that fit the conditions and the overall environment, we can help find ways to increase production and reduce downtime.
Cost Management
Packaging assessments can also reveal ways to reduce costs without compromising quality. A good example of this is through an evaluation of inventory. PCA can perform an assessment of your current inventory and make suggestions on how you can effectively consolidate the number of box SKUs you are using. Another example is identifying opportunities where Ships in Product Packaging (SIPP) designs, formerly known as Ships in Own Container (SIOC), can be employed. By eliminating the need for an additional shipping box, SIPP minimizes material usage. Additionally, SIPP products are packed directly into their shipping containers, reducing the need for extra packing steps. This reduces labor costs and can improve the consumer unboxing experience.
Sustainability Gains
Assessments can also identify ways to meet corporate social responsibility targets or appeal to eco-conscious consumers. For instance, an assessment could determine that your box is being overpackaged. PCA could recommend a redesign that involves rightsizing packaging to eliminate air and headspace, improving both material usage and shipping efficiency. We can also evaluate how products are packed. Through an assessment, we’ll evaluate the entire life cycle of the packaging, including its recyclability, reusability and overall environmental footprint. These modifications or suggestions can help our customers meet their sustainability goals.
From addressing performance issues to increasing efficiencies, PCA’s packaging assessments can help you identify improvements that can adequately protect your products and streamline efficiencies. If you’re interested in diving deeper into optimizing your packaging program, we invite you to fill out the form below to get in touch with a PCA representative.
