If your role is as a brand manager, production or plant manager, then you know your primary focus includes the bottom line. Packaging affects many different parts of your product line, which in turn drives the growth of your business. Cost reduction and revenue growth can be tied directly to the way you package and ship your products. Industrial packaging materials, and processes must adhere to certain standards of safety and quality. The efficiency with which you execute these properly is extremely important to your overall business.
We’ve prepared a list of five packaging tips to help your production line run more efficiently to improve your production process, grow your business and maintain that growth:
Don’t Over-Package
Keep the package easy as possible to open while maintaining the right amount to secure the package and its contents during transport. One common way contract packaging companies are over-spending on their operations is by over-packaging. Of course, new products are usually (and should be) introduced with safer packaging specifications, but after a reasonable track record has been established, the materials used should be reduced accordingly.
Standardize
Implementing a standardized process when it comes to the packaging operation of your facility is an effective way to ensure quicker and more accurate services. Standardization will have a direct impact on material costs when the packaging itself is standardized by size, weight, and other factors particular to your product.
Incorporate Automation
Human labor is expensive, more prone to mistakes, and often less efficient than technology. Although the upfront cost to purchase automation equipment is typically steep, the cost of labor vs. the speed of return from automation makes it well worth it in the long run. Some contract packaging companies may be able to acquire greater productivity as well as reduce costs by automating some of their packaging processes.
Green Packaging
Flexible Packaging has come a long way since the days of PVC films being the only available and viable option for product manufacturers of any kind. With developments in new polyolefin materials, it’s now possible to cut, dye, print, and design flexible packaging that performs, in most cases, better than corrugated and glass packaging while remaining environmentally-friendly.
These lightweight and durable films are recyclable and can significantly reduce shipping/freight costs when compared to the alternative materials. Flexible films also allow your product to have a smaller footprint which further reduced costs of shipping and also provided more flexibility for shelf placement.
Packaging trends also show that biodegradable flexible packaging materials are emerging as an increasingly viable field. Features like biodegradability have been shown to make a marked impact on consumer purchasing decisions. From an ethical standpoint, your business is making an eco-decision that benefits the environment while promoting your brand’s corporate responsibility.
Label Printing
This is a popular option for businesses hoping to retroactively redesign their products and cut costs. Simply removing stick-on labels, which would have to be designed separately and printing the label directly onto the package cuts an entire step out of the process. Not only does this reduce production time, it fits in quite nicely with the trend towards greener packaging practices.
By implementing these five efficient packaging tips, you are sure to see an increase in production which will have a positive impact on your bottom line. At Griffin-Rutgers we can help you determine the correct labeling and coding printer for your operation to ensure you are using the best system for particular manufacturing needs.
