by Rob Kaszubowski, Packaging Engineering Manager, Chainalytics
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Nested oranges inside corrugated shipper |
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Nested fruit cups |
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Non-nested fruit cups are inefficient |
The high-level takeaways from this? A seemingly minor package orientation can lead directly to multiple savings across the supply chain through:
1. Less corrugated material
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Corrugated shipper material comparison – Nested fruit cups vs. Non-nested |
The corrugated shipper with the nested fruit cups utilizes 386 square inches material.
The not-nested case uses 411 square inches of material. Or a 6.5% increase in material!
2. Improved pallet cube efficiencies
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Nested cups shipper vs. non-nested cups shipper |
Nesting the fruit cups allows for an extra 20 cases per pallet (or 8.6% improvement in pallet efficiencies). This translates to fewer pallets in the system, fewer trailers and less handling labor.
3. Fewer trailers in transit
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Improved pallet utilization leads to fewer trailers on the roads |
Fewer trailers provide cost savings and sustainability gains from less diesel usage and lower carbon emissions. Plus, the need for fewer trailers on the road also helps alleviate driver shortage constraints. Again, it’s the simple things that can lead to big time savings for consumer packaged goods companies.
4. More product on the pallet at Costco
This one is pretty obvious, but having more product on the pallet at the stores leads to less handling and fewer touches throughout the supply chain – even at the store level.
Rob Kaszubowski is a Packaging Engineering Manager at Chainalytics Packaging Engineering practice. His track record of success ranges from delivering packaging cost savings and damage reduction projects to optimizing packaging throughout clients’ entire supply chains including retail, DIY and big-box channels.