What do you want Returnable Packaging to do for you? – Packaging Discussion, Auto Supply Chain Congress, Liverpool.

During the Auto Supply Chain congress in Liverpool, I will be chairing a discussion on packaging and what the automotive industry wants it to do in the global supply chain. I am keen to know what the industry is currently using to package their components, the issues they have with the materials they are using and most importantly, their plans for the future.

I want to understand the industries thoughts on those areas because packaging’s role is growing in importance within the global supply chain and overall manufacturing process in the automotive industry.

Logical planning and implementation of packaging solutions can help deal with the pressures of the overall manufacturing process from tier suppliers, OEMs and the 4PL’s through to the manufacturer.

So think about this – are your materials delivering value for money and, secondly, are they sustainable enough to cope with the increasing demands related to time frames and quality?

With increasing demand on a global scale, packaging is required to be robust, agile and cost effective. Are your packaging solutions meeting these expectations?

Plastic returnable packaging is one solution that caters for all of the demands of the automotive industry, driving down costs and improving efficiencies in the global supply chain. Plastic is increasingly becoming the material of choice for the automotive industry when looking to improve their packaging, the main reason behind this is the fact it can produce the results manufacturers require time and again.

Moving to returnable packaging offers a variety of options and benefits compared to expendables such as wood and cardboard. Plastic returnable packaging helps to streamline the handling process from tier supplier to plant reducing both costs and timescales.

You can mould the returnable packaging solution to suit your requirements by using pooling companies which also helps to reduce the costs of packaging. Using pooling companies in a global supply chain improves efficiencies without the need for capital investment as you only pay for the outbound trip. When using a pooler there is no charge for the return journey as the company uses it for another customer in the same area. There is no ROI as there is no investment in the first place when using pooling companies.

I have been surprised at the lack of knowledge of pooling companies offering returnable solutions in the automotive industry. Even more surprised to hear that some in the industry aren’t even aware of the viable options now available.

The packaging discussion at the Auto Supply Chain Congress is all about hearing your ideas and thoughts on what you want your supply chain to do for you. 

The ISO Bin should be the industries returnable of choice, see why at Auto Supply Chain, Liverpool

How much does it cost you to dispose of your packaging? Or if you do happen to use returnable, do you think there could be competitive alternatives?

With the ISO Bin from Macro Plastics, sponsor of the AutoSupply Chain Congress, there are no costs to disposing of packaging as there is nothing to dispose of. Installing dunnage inside the ISO Bin removes the need for cardboard and plastic packaging, therefore no rubbish means no cost.

Then you have concerns about the cost of shipping back to the OEM or tier supplier? Have you encountered extortionate costs for return journeys previously?

Pay me a visit whilst in Liverpool at the congress so that you can see why this type of packaging is a viable alternative to your current method solely on the benefits of returning the bins.

Purchasing cardboard and assembling the packing is a recurring cost that is removed when using plastic returnable. Plastic returnable packaging also removes the costs associated with processing components in cardboard packaging. There are no storage costs, there is no need for picking and repackaging at the plant as the ISO Bin can go lineside. Then there are disposal costs that you incur with cardboard. This sustainable product not only helps your bottom line but also ensures that your supply chain is environmentally friendly, especially as we are now in a time when green standards are high on the agenda.

The ISO containers can be stacked 8 high on their return journey, this significantly reduces the space that is needed in comparison to current returnable options on the market. Therefore you can increase the number of units per container and reducing the cost of returning the bin.

With regard to the dunnage, a dedicated container is used to return the dunnage used in the delivery of the components to the plant. The bulk of the ISO Bins can then be collapsed down and stacked to either be returned to the tier supplier or can be used elsewhere in the supply chain.

The ISO Bin can be safely stacked in a warehouse 6 high when fully loaded, again reducing the space required in comparison to alternatives and reducing the storage costs.

Potential cost downs couple with improved performance of your growing supply chain cannot be ignored. This is a solution that delivers on the two key areas of the logistical process having a direct impact on the bottom line providing a ROI.

But then why do you need to be concerned about ROI when there are options that do not require capital investment?

Come and see the ISO Bin at the Auto Supply Chain Congress, Liverpool

In June Macro Plastics are one of the sponsors of the Auto Supply Chain Congress in Liverpool and we will be exhibiting the ISO Bin.

During the congress the bin will be there so come and see for yourselves what it can do for your automotive supply chain. Saving time and money whilst helping you to improve the efficiencies throughout your logistics process, you can’t afford to ignore what this product has to offer.

What are you currently using in your Global supply chain to transport components from tier suppliers and OEMs?

Are you using returnable packaging at all? If not, why not?

As with anything new, there is always a little hesitancy and apprehension which is understandable but, when it comes down to business and an industry which is as fast paced as the automotive manufacturing, hesitancy can result in being left behind.

Therefore, Liverpool is the ideal opportunity to come and look at the ISO Bin first hand to gain a better understanding of returnable packaging and the ISO Bin in particular.

As the industry increases in complexity on a global scale the need to increase volumes and frequency whilst reducing costs is heightening. You have to ask yourself, are your current packaging solutions going to be up to the tasks you are facing?

Integrating the plastic ISO Bin into your global supply chain optimises pack densities utilising 97.2% of floor space in ISO Sea containers and can be stacked 3 high. The durability of the plastic used by Macro Plastics reduces the risk of damages during transportation. In comparison to using wood in your supply chain, plastic reduces the overall weight and in turn, shipping costs.

The ISO Bin has been designed so that it is able to go direct to line-side further reducing costs by removing the need for handling processes or repack. Having a packaging solution that allows components to arrive at the manufacturing plant and be transported directly to where it will be assembled onto the vehicle significantly reduces the risk of damages, improves speed and preserves quality in transit therefore reducing costs in the supply chain further.

Those are just some of the benefits of the ISO Bin concentrating on the first leg of the journey shipping the parts. We haven’t got into the results it can produce for you on the return journey; I will be covering this in my next blog.

As I have said earlier in this piece, the Auto Supply Chain congress is the perfect opportunity to get your head around the ISO Bin and have all of your questions answered. 

Take a Closer Look at Returnable Packaging

So how robust do you believe your supply chain is and how are you looking to manage and increase your capacity in the growing global market?

I will be taking part in a panel discussion on the capacity and robustness of supply chains at the Automotive Supply Chain Congress in Liverpool.

Over the next two days the executives from the leading automotive manufacturers will be attending the annual conference to discuss where their supply chain is heading and how they can keep up the growing market, returnablepackaging being one key area of interest.

On the panel there will be Jonathan DiMambo from Bentley Motors, Richard Horswill from Stena Freight, Cengiz Kabatepe of Ford Otosan, Timothy Nickel of Surgere, Mike Silvio from Cooper Standard Automotive and Stewart Robertson from DHL.

With today’s demand and capacity restraints due to fast and accelerated movements through the supply chain no one has time to waste with waste.

The procurement of one trip packaging and disposal is completely unnecessary when the offer of hiring/ renting quality returnable solutions on a one trip basis is available regionally and globally.

The automotive industry is surprisingly unaware of the opportunities that returnable packaging presents to their supply chain. The amount of options that are now available to OEM’s and tier suppliers are endless.

Development of the returnable packaging market and the emergence of new companies now provide OEM’s and tier suppliers with solutions that they could only dream of previously.

Returnable packaging solutions can help solve your issues around capacity and robustness in order to improve the performance of your supply chain. This one simple change can transform your whole supply chain.

Intercontinental supply chains have grown significantly and will grow even further in the future, the need for more components required in more locations and more often is rocketing. Bringing costs down and improving capacity utilisation is integral, returnable packaging using plastic improves cubed utilisation allowing you to ship larger quantities for lower costs.

With the speed of supply chains growing and quality standards going in the same direction there is little room for error, plastic returnable solutions are built to ensure quality and reduce damages.

Reducing damages and ensuring the quality of components is high on the agenda, using returnable packaging solutions can reduce these risks associated with the expendable packaging such as cardboard. By reducing the risk of damaged goods this in turn reduces the costs and aids the speed of the supply chain.

With the progress that has been made by the returnable packaging industry it is now easier than ever to justify the shift to using these new methods as opposed to using old and inefficient packaging solutions.

Now, the automotive industry has all of their needs catered for in terms of packaging. All they need to do is try returnable packaging for themselves to experience the benefits first hand.