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Role of Packaging in Logistics

Role of Packaging in Logistics

The role of packaging in logistics and supply chain management is critical and has everything to do with customer satisfaction. Logistics refers to supply chain management processes: monitoring, organizing, controlling, and the direction of supplies. Shipping, on the other hand, refers to the channel through which the customer receives the product. The role of packaging in logistics and the supply chain is significant in customer perception. Through high-quality packaging, the customer gets the product in the desired shape and condition. Additionally, packaging in logistics ppt communicates a lot to the customer, therefore, marketing and branding your company.

Therefore, the role of packaging in logistics and supply chain management is an essential factor for a company. If a company packages its products professionally, it ensures minimum returns of damaged goods from customers. This can impose additional expenses to the company in the form of labour, new products, and extra shipping costs. Moreover, damaged goods can distort the image of the organization.

Packaging in logistics ppt also affects the product’s transportation process to the recipient. When adequately packaged, it gets easier to transport many delicate items together without worrying about loss through damages. In conclusion, as businesses work on packaging in logistics and supply chain management, they need to think of production, marketing, logistics, and the environment. Now that we have looked at the role of packaging in logistics and supply chain let us look at the different types of packaging.

Primary packaging

There are three types of packaging including primary, secondary and tertiary. Businesses use different packaging depending on the product type to ensure that the product is preserved and protected. Primary packaging, also known as the consumer unit, is in direct contact with the product. Apart from containing the product, this form of packaging helps preserve and protect the product from contaminants. Primary packaging is usually intended for the product’s end-user as it makes the commodity easier to handle. Businesses use primary branding for marketing purposes. As a result, they print the information they wish to communicate to the consumer on the primary packaging. Also, by making it appealing to the eye, businesses can capture the attention of buyers at the retail shop.

Secondary packaging comes on top of the primary packaging for product display and branding. It contains a set of these products and is meant as a stock-keeping unit (SKU). When placed in secondary packaging, it gets easier for buyers to handle the product as a single pack. It also acts as supplementary protective packaging providing additional protection to the product and the primary packaging. For small shipments, secondary packaging is used in ecommerce. It is often composed of multiple components paper, bags, reinforcements, separators, padding, and boxes. In warehousing, secondary packaging is used in the differentiation and identification of a product.

Tertiary packaging, also transit or bulk packaging, is used to safely transport SKUs in large quantities. In tertiary packaging, products are handled as distribution units and help transport, store, and handle the product. This is the form of packaging commonly used in shipping.

Types of packaging for food

There are different types of food packaging, and the choice of packaging depends on the type of product. Packaging for food helps in the protection of the product from tampering, contamination and damage. Indeed, the packaging also helps in defining quantity size and amount. Additionally, foods packaging is also used by manufacturers for marketing, differentiation and display of branding information. There are different types of packaging materials pdf for foods. They include aseptic, wrappers, trays, pallets, flexible packaging, cartons, cans, boxes and bags.

  • Aseptic are types of primary packaging used for foods that need to stay sterile, such as processed foods, liquid eggs, milk and other drinkable products. This form of packaging is made up of a mixture of paper, polythene and aluminium.
  • Bags are types of packaging primary used to prevent foods from getting into contact with the environment. They are usually made of thin plastic material and are used in the packaging of snacks, fruits and vegetables.
  • Boxes are among the most common types of packaging pdf. They are usually made of corrugated fibreboard, wood or metal. These types of packaging in supply chain management are more durable and resistant to pressure and damage. Some foods packed in boxes include frozen pizza and cereals.
  • Cans are opaque packaging containers used in the preservation of foods by protecting them from light. These types of packaging primary are made of steel or thin metal, which are tin-coated to prevent corrosion. They are used as packaging materials for gravy, meat, soup, fruits and vegetables.
  • Cartons are more durable types of packaging pdf. They are made of corrugated cardboard, which is often coated with paraffin or plastic to prevent moisture. These types of packaging in logistics are designed into different styles, such as egg cartons with egg-shaped molds. This is one form of transportation packaging that keeps the eggs safe during transportation. Other carton packagings include aseptic cartons containing drinks, folding cartons and gable-top cartons.
  • Flexible packaging is made of non-rigid materials that contain foods such as salads. Pallets are other types of transportation packaging used for large quantities of food containers. Foods transported in pallets are usually shrink-wrapped to provide additional safety.
  • Trays are used in the packaging of plant seeds, meat and drinks. They are usually made of flat thick paperboard materials raised on the edges. Finally, wrappers are plastic packaging materials used to wrap individual food products such as granola bars and candy.

Importance of packaging in supply chain management

Packaging in supply chain management pdf involves the preparation of goods for secure, efficient, and cost-effective goods through the supply chain. Packaging in supply chain management ppt plays a significant role as it:

  • protects these products from damage,
  • helps in effective distribution
  • communicates to the consumers
  • helps in product promotion and establishing brand identity
  • enhancing product traceability

Packaging issues in the global supply chain can be looked at in terms of market, flow and the environment. Indeed, the market is a critical factor in packaging optimization in the supply chain, as it brings into account product aspects such as design, layout, ergonomic elements and communication. When combined, these factors add to the brand value. Additionally, the packaging is critical in brand positioning, evaluation, categorization, intention to purchase and usage behavior.

Flow in the packaging in supply chain management pdf considers the product features, which are essential in handling the product during distribution. In this case, flow involves internal material flows, logistical packaging in supply chain management, distribution, disposal, un-packaging and the handling of returns. The close relationship between packaging and logistics adds value to products through the supply chain, from raw materials to the disposal of the packaging materials through recycling.

The environmental aspect in the packaging in supply chain management pdf refers to the impact on the immediate environment. In this case, manufacturers are looking into having fewer inputs that do not affect product quality while keeping the environment safe through reuse.

Levels of packaging

As we saw above, there are three levels of packaging: primary, secondary and tertiary, and each has its advantages. In this section, we are going to look at the relationship between packaging and logistics.

Benefits of packaging in logistics

Indeed, there are various functions of packaging in logistics, and they include:

Compliance; there are different packaging compliance issues, especially when shipping products overseas. Suppose you are not aware of the requirements. In that case, the business is likely to suffer losses or delays in product delivery.

Transportation; goods are easier to transport with proper packaging in logistics pdf. In some cases, it would be impossible to hip goods without risking damage and loss without appropriate packaging.

Protection of goods; when looking at the importance of packaging in logistics pdf, we first think of the product’s safety. As we saw earlier in this article, businesses suffer substantial financial losses and client trust due to damaged goods. When shipping products, companies need to emphasize the packaging and material handling in logistics pdf to minimize these losses

Communication; businesses use their packaging to relay the intended information to the product users. In other cases, information on the type of commodity inside and handling procedures is printed on the packaging to make the handling process much more manageable. Logistics packaging ppt is, therefore, critical in the storage of the products and transportation.

Storage; with the appropriate packaging, the storage of goods in warehouses become easier, and so does shipping.

Marketing; businesses take advantage of packaging for branding. Through packaging, the manufacturer can also capture the attention of the buyers of the product as well as provide information on desirable product features.

Logistical packaging meaning

What is packaging in logistics? Packaging logistics refers to a coordinated system of preparing goods for safe, secure, efficient and effective handling, transport, distribution, storage, retailing, consumption and recovery, reuse or disposal, and maximizing consumer value, sales, and profit. From this packaging logistics definition, you understand this is a process that begins at the production and goes on through the product cycle to the end.

In summary, as a business, you need to understand the objectives of packaging in logistics. This will help you add value to your product through the most appropriate logistics packaging materials. You also need to enhance the packaging process to avoid packaging problems in logistics, bringing down your business.

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