In our last entry we talked about the benefits of Combination Packaging, but what does it mean for your business?  What does it mean to reduce downtime or maximize floor space?  How can you actually reduce make-ready time and SKUs?  Here are the details:

Machine downtime is frustrating and expensive!

By pre-attaching inserts to cartons:

• You issue one component to your lines, instead of two
• No need to set-up or run an insert feeder, which prevents insert trays from falling on the floor or into the machine, insert feeder jams, glue nozzle cleaning or replacing, and no more slowing down your lines so that insert feeder operators can keep up with the production rate.
• You’ll also increase production throughput since inserts don’t have to be attached or inserted within your production process.  Insert feeder bottlenecks, jamming and breakdowns don’t occur since the insert feeder is not running.  Inserts attached to cartons don’t interfere with normal production speeds.

Next, let’s consider the cost of holding inventory

With Combination Packaging, components are shipped to you already attached together to reduce space and eliminate individual part replenishment and ordering.  Having components already attached reduces complexity in storage, handling, issuance and inventory control.

Additionally, your floor space is prime real estate.  Pre-attaching inserts to cartons means you don’t inventory both carton and insert pallets.  On the production floor, one pallet of cartons with already attached inserts is issued and takes up less space.

Many hours can be spent properly setting up an insert feeder

By combining package components, set up time is eliminated.  You will also save on machine capital and yearly maintenance costs.

Finally, it’s important that additional process controls over and above those required in the cGMP’s are integrated into the process at your supplier to ensure combination packaging is properly controlled and maintained.

Next month, we’ll cover how to reduce your cost of inbound QA events to $0! Stay tuned…

Please leave a comment if you’d like to be contacted. One of our Package Engineers can take you through a step by step cost-savings calculator based on your commodities.