3 critical steps to improve your packaging efficiency

Your organization’s packaging operation is an excellent starting point for increasing warehouse efficiency that can significantly improve your supply chain performance. Inefficient packaging can often lead to a raft of issues that can quickly add up to a hefty bill.

Here are a few steps you can take to avoid a variety of costly setbacks:

1. Understand your packaging process
A deep dive into your packaging operation lets you identify productivity bottlenecks that reduce throughput in your warehouses and distribution centers. Manual picking and packing operations are the leading contributors to these insufficiencies. Using automation in your packaging process increase your packaging productivity. As we all know, time is money, so every second matters. Incorporating machinery such as cass erectors, palletizers or semi-automatic stretch wrappers will boost your packing rates. Not only that, they’ll cut costs, increase speed and reduce waste and damage.

2. Minimize touches throughout the supply chain
It is always important to find the supply chain hazards along your product’s journey. With shifting SKU numbers, personnel, production and sales volumes, you need to keep in mind that a supply chain is an ever-evolving beast. Reducing touches and streamlining your packaging operation can drastically minimize damage while raising productivity at the same time. Tools like conveyors are a great way to move products through your warehouse while reducing the risk of accidental drops and damage because humans are fallible, and mistakes happen.

And let’s not forget that in-house dangers are one thing, but the risks only multiply when the package is out of your control and in the downstream supply chain. Transportation, forklifts and clamp-truck handling hazards are bad enough, but the touches related to last-mile delivery are another thing entirely.

3. Track and reduce your damage rates
This step allows your organization to stay ahead of the many costs and consequences associated with damaged products. These can include consequences like reverse logistics (returns), markdowns as well as customer dissatisfaction, complaints and bad online reviews.

By tracking damage rates, you can address packaging, supplier and logistical issues as they arise. That way your company can act before bills and other consequences can pile up. The fact is that you’ll find that simple packaging designs and handling procedures are often your best allies as you work on reducing your damage rates.

Raise the efficiency of your packaging process

It won’t only help with cost reduction, but it’ll also serve as an opportunity for organizational growth and increased service levels. The application of automated processes and minimized handling will let your organization redirect supply chain resources and staff into other areas of the business. When you combine increased efficiency with lower damage rates, you can move more product out with less coming back as returns.

Has your packaging process hit a hard limit on productivity? Contact us to learn how we can help you find new ways to raise the efficiency and throughput of your packaging operation. Our top supply chain talent, enabled by proven, leading-edge digital assets — tools, methods and content — deliver actionable insights and measurable outcomes to some of today’s largest and most complex supply chains.