Leveraging your packaging consulting engineer
It’s true – you only get one opportunity to make a good first impression. For a manufacturing company, a customer’s first impression often comes in the form of product packaging. It would seem fitting then that experts would be engaged in developing packaging to ensure best practices are being utilized in an efficient and aesthetically pleasing way.
Many manufacturing companies elect to engage project consultation support for process systems and mechanical systems. While these are both areas of great importance, they don’t affect the one area by which the customer sees and judges a company – the package. Many times the packaging process is neglected and hastily put together, creating a need for intervention and support in order to fully take advantage of a manufacturing line’s optimal throughput and efficiencies. Leverage the expertise of a packaging consulting engineer to put your best face forward.
Companies will offer many reasons why they do not need to engage an outside packaging engineer. “We know our business and our customers.” “We have always done it ourselves.” “It’s just packaging.”
But there are many reasons why companies should consider a packaging consulting engineer as external support for their packaging processes.
Why leverage a packaging consulting engineer:
Bring diverse experience
Packaging consulting engineers have executed projects in numerous other industries. They are able to leverage many key learnings to develop new processes, advance new products and manage overall project requirements. Their diverse experience brings many advantages to the manufacturing company.
Solve staffing availability
Existing staff may be stretched and may not have the available time to dive into the depth of detail necessary to identify the best packaging options available from both an equipment and material standpoint. Utilizing a packaging consulting engineer allows for the investigation of technology, not only in a manufacturer’s current industry, but across industries they hadn’t considered benchmarking. Engaging the consulting engineer to focus on this effort will provide the manufacturer with the necessary information to come to the best business decisions.
Uncover cost savings and operational improvements
Many packaging consulting engineers have expertise in or have access to LEAN and 6 Sigma professionals. A manufacturing organization can benefit from an in-depth analysis of the current packaging process. The packaging consultant will identify ways to help with downtime reduction, material and product waste reduction, reallocation of labor and reduction of packaging material costs.
Select packaging equipment and materials
When it is time to change materials or upgrade equipment, it can be of great benefit to consider a packaging consulting engineer. Their expertise and diverse background will enhance research and help to identify the best options. The selection of packaging equipment and materials should never be treated as a random act of procurement. A packaging engineer can help you address many different aspects of your processes, including:
- User requirements
- Future marketing plans
- Packaging material changes
- Sustainability initiatives
- Best practices
- Ergonomics
- Safety
- Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and recalls
- Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
- Acceptance Quality Limits (AQL)
- Reliability and maintainability
Engage a packaging consulting engineer
If the appearance and performance of your product’s packaging isn’t providing a positive experience for your customer, you may want to consider engaging a packaging consulting engineer to work with your team. Learn more about how CRB can assist your team with your packaging and material handling challenges here.
