Stuart Roberts, European executive director of marketing at global packaging company Sealed Air, explains why Europe’s logistics and supply chain sectors are suffering and outlines the importance of elements such as packaging.
“Some of the strain logistics operations are experiencing at the moment is due to the fallout from the recession. With less money to invest in infrastructure it has proven difficult for some providers to increase capacity in the face of huge growth, and even those that were able to invest may not have forecasted for quite the level of growth they are experiencing.
“Due to the huge pressure supply chains are under, and the reactive nature of management within those supply chains, time and resources are being haemorrhaged. It’s crucial that efficiencies remain on logistics professionals critical path at all times.
“Due to the market becoming commoditised, packaging is one such efficiency that is consistently overlooked. It can act as a stimulant throughout the supply chain to boost productivity and offer a competitive edge.
“Packaging line speed is crucial. Identifying bottlenecks on the line such as labelling; leaflet insertion; sizing; end-of-line processes and packaging material choices all contribute to the individual line speed and can be improved through the correct packaging solutions. Consider reducing the bottleneck with packing line automation, also, by rethinking your conveyors, such as multi-lane or helical conveyors. Many of our inflatable packaging systems integrate with conveyors and packing lines to optimise flow and speed.
“Shrink films can cause unnecessary downtime and energy expenditure. Many in the industry are still using 15-20 micro shrink films – Sealed Air’s Cryovac Technology films can now be supplied at just 9-11 microns. More metres on a roll will see them last longer on the line, reducing the required scheduled down time for switching rolls, with the ultimate impact being more products packaged per day. There is also a green impact, with energy savings due to the higher volume capabilities.
“Reduced transit and storage space and costs, a reduced packaging inventory, and more room for and accessibility to stock are all benefits of space efficient packaging solutions. It’s crucial businesses minimise packaging whilst maximising protection. There is a big move to this just-in-time packaging across the logistics sector because the market is demanding it.
“Whilst the current environment isn’t conducive to analysis of where the pressure points are in a supply chain, it’s crucial these are assessed now. Audits will often show that small total expenditure costs such as packaging can have a significant impact on efficiency, productivity and profitability.”
Stuart Roberts is European executive director of marketing at global packaging company Sealed Air. This is a personal blog and the views expressed are his own.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024