The best time to start packaging development is in the early stages of product design. By taking requirements and logistical constraints into account at an early stage, you can avoid costly adjustments and inefficient solutions. This ensures you have suitable, reliable packaging that keeps processes running smoothly.
Some companies link packaging development completely separate from product development. Unfortunately, this regularly results in packaging stress at the end of the process. And unnecessary costs. Can this be avoided? How do other companies tackle it?
Often buyers run into all kinds of problems when developing packaging because it is too late to know how they want to package the product. In this article about early involvement I described how these problems can be avoided. It can save you a considerable amount of money and provide better quality packaging if you start the packaging development with your packaging supplier earlier.
Of course, a good engineer takes into account the movement of the product in the design. But sometimes the design can be just a little more compact, so that the packaging suddenly does fit on a standard pallet. On an annual basis, this can save a considerable amount in transport and storage costs. And the more time you have to map out which requirements the packaging must meet, the less chance you have of overlooking something. This can only benefit the quality of the solution. As packaging specialists, we are uniquely qualified to advise you on this.
But “starting earlier,” when is that? That varies from company to company and from process to process. In general, the more complex the issue, the more time is needed to design a packaging solution. Exactly how much time, is different for each packaging question. If packaging development starts in the early stages of product development, we can add the most value.
Often the design phase requires the most time. Product development is a moving train; packaging is the last stop before the final station. To map out all the specifications for the packaging, we bring that train to a halt. A moment’s pause. Where will the product go in the packaging, what will the packaging encounter along the way? What does the packaging have to withstand? What laws and regulations or logistics standards must the packaging comply with? We need the answers to these questions in order to develop the best packaging solution. At such a late stage, all those questions jeopardize the deadline. At an earlier stage, there is plenty of time to answer these questions.
So the sooner the better? In a sense, yes. But that is no guarantee of success. Preferably, we start designing the packaging when the product design is final. And when all specifications for the packaging are known and agreed upon within the organization. This saves you time, costs and packaging stress. And you get the optimal packaging solution.
We regularly experience project schedules that are overrun. That’s just the way it goes. Then we are in the starting blocks to design the packaging, but the product design is not yet ready. Then we are sometimes asked to start working on the packaging anyway, because there is no time to lose. I notice that this often causes delays and extra costs. Because every change in the product design can affect the packaging. And because the final product design might require different packaging than we thought beforehand. For the best result at the best price, it is therefore more effective not to get started until the product design is ready.
Sometimes it also happens that the packaging requirements are not yet fully aligned internally. Along the way, not everyone in the project team appears to be on the same page with regard to the packaging requirements. This can result in many additional changes as well as extra approval rounds. That costs time. And money. A shame! Internal coordination about the packaging is therefore also important to prevent packaging stress.
Capacity is also critical. Just the other day I received an urgent request, with a deadline that was unbelievable. Then we pull out all the stops to make it happen. The great thing was that the buyer was completely free to arrange the packaging. He knew all the specifications in detail, and questions were answered very quickly. We coordinated every step of the packaging development together. With such short lines you can move forward quickly, in no time we had the perfect packaging solution ready! That was really great teamwork.
Choosing an appropriate transport packaging for your product is not always easy. It is therefore wise to ask yourself a number of questions when making a packaging choice. To help you with this, we have prepared a checklist of questions that we also ask our customers when solving a packaging issue.
Download the checklist below!
Harold Pijs has been with Faes for more than 30 years and is Manager of Customer Service. As the driving force behind inside sales, he ensures reliable customer communication and a smooth order process. His experience makes him an indispensable link in customer-oriented service.
More articles by Harold PijsGood packaging doesn’t just happen by chance. Using a tried-and-tested approach, our specialists guide you step by step from the initial idea to the finished product.
