In logistics, an optimal packaging is of existential relevance: Nearly every product has to be packed and transported during the course of its product engineering process. Packaging logistics is a many-sided topic and consists of planning, evaluation, testing and optimization of packaging. Our focus is on the analysis and optimization of all processes.
E3NEO did some highly interesting studies, here some examples:
1. Customer A (office supply) :
The goal was to pack a maximum number of orders in a minimum amount of carton sizes, without increasing the number of boxes and the shipping volume. The standardization in basic formats allows to use mechanization for erecting and closing of the carton and therefor to reduce the work process per order significantly.
The process we suggested to customer A is based on an evolutionary solution that allows the customer to continue growing linearly and to continue implementation of mechanized solutions for packaging in the future without fundamental changes.
The basic technical idea is to remove as much as possible time of the packers by automating the erection and closing of the cartons and the labeling. A complementary part of the study was dedicated to cushioning and the integration of the supply of the material to the pack stations. This grants a greatly increased throughput with perfect quality.
The cardboard selection (FEFCO codes), matched to the box sizes allows the ideal cost / benefit factor in combination with the savings on the operational side.
2. Customer B (electronics & multimedia )
The customer was looking for a best adapted mechanized void fill and product securing solution. Different approaches have been tried over the last years. The currently only convincing solution is a Loosefill automation, which is used, however, only for the smaller boxes, due to the high material costs for the bigger boxes.
The aim of the study was,
a) to define the best adapted void fill & securing material for the bigger boxes
b) to determine the real filling rate of the boxes and to match them with the theoretical values of the customer’s SAP. This is to run an accurate cost analysis for the material consumption and in parallel to calculate the value of a height reduction system,
c) to define the right carton sizes for the future automization
3. Customer C (e-business)
The goal of the study was to identify, evaluate and integrate optimized packing processes based on mechanized solutions through a new material flow concept to be interfaced with the picking processes and the sorting/shipping area in order to fully balance (and profit of) the capacity of the automatic packing equipment.
This study highlighted impacts of the different solutions on the whole packing environment, in terms of productivity, quality, savings of space, and potential change of the picking processes.
We are working with a high level of intimacy with our customers in the aim to reduce costs and the carbon footprint to increase the efficiency of the logistic process. A structured and optimized process can reduce costs for stowing and internal handling. Increased pallet filling rates can decrease costs for shipping and protect the environment ! Investment is not the only criteria to consider. The overall value of the cost reduction, which an optimized packaging generates during its entire lifetime, is the key of the calculation of a ROI.
For more information: info@cretech.nl 0031 (0)77 4623222