Packaging in Supply Chain
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Global Logistics & Supply Chain Management ReportPackaging Review ReportExecutive SummaryThis report provides an analysis on how packaging plays a major role in today’s supply chain. It is found that packaging are considered to be substantial in the integrated supply chain system; by using the right packaging to deliver and display the products, cost and liability can be minimized. Thus, it is important to consider practicality, durability, and aesthetics aspects before it is mass-produced.Table of Contents
Different Range of Packaging TypesWhen discussing about the ranges and types of packaging, there are several different types that come across in mind, transport packaging, distribution packaging, or consumer packaging might be the part of it. However, it would be more convenient to divide types of packaging by categorizing them into three specific terms. The first one would be the Tertiary Packaging, which is perceived to facilitate the movement of handling, transport, and storage of the products in bulk units in order to prevent damages; palletized unit load and crates are some of the examples of tertiary packaging. The second one is the secondary packaging, where the purposes are to group the primary packaging together or as a display on the shelves in retail store. This secondary packaging can be sold to the consumers directly; cardboard packaging on the six bottles of soft drink is one of the examples. The third one is the primary packaging, this packaging is important since it relates to visual communication of the products; it is also one types of packaging that directly encloses the contents and designated for the end-user consumers in the smallest unit of distributions (Regattieri, A & Santarelli, P 2013). Factors to Consider When Designing PackagingIt is important to consider some relevant factors when developing the design of a packaging; careful primary research and sufficient time and money should be allocated before making the final decision, which will correspondingly be beneficial in the long term. Protection, safety, convenience, label, and aesthetics are some of the factors that should be thoroughly examined before designing the package, the packaging that will be develop should be optimized to protect and preserve the contents from damage, it should also be able to contain dangerous product safely, provide convenience for consumers, provide information on what the products contain clearly and adhere to legal required standard of packaging. Lastly, the aesthetics aspect of the products is important to appeal to consumer’s preferences, reflect the brand promise, and meets the buying behavior of the target market (Bowersox et al. 2007). Therefore, when designing the packaging, all these factors are able to help on reducing the time, money, and increasing sales & profit.The Importance of StandardizationThere are different types of standardization that have to be adhered when designing the packaging of products, especially when the product is mass produced and distributed; standardization of the packaging will help to maximize the compatibility, safety, and quality of the products. When looking into the ISO ICS (International Classification for Standards) 55: Packaging and Distribution of Goods, it can be seen that there are many published standards that are designed to fulfill every aspects of packaging, ranging from safety, storage, and labeling issues; even every countries have different standards involving packaging, European and American countries are some of the examples (ISO standards tackles inaccessible Packaging Designs 2011). Additionally, following the International standardization such as ISO, will likely to help on boosting the brand image in International market; since following International standardization can be equally interpreted with qualities. Furthermore, the standardization of packaging should not be taken lightly, considering that failure to meet the required standard in safety or phytosanitary will result on loss of consumers trust, profit, and in the worst case; the products wont be able to enter the market for sales. Thereupon, the stage of designing the packaging will be one of the most crucial steps, since the decisions will have an impact on the whole supply chain and logistics process (World standards on packaging and the environment progressing 2011).