Boxes have been used for the storage and shipment of items for centuries. Wood was used to make most boxes until the invention of cardboard. Cardboard solved some problems but created other problems. Lightweight Styrofoam “popcorn” commonly filled box voids. Wasted box space has been tolerated up and down the supply chain until recent years. Your company may actually need tailored boxes to survive.
A Fast-Emerging Supply Chain Problem
Cardboard boxes stack nicely. If boxes shipping out are packed in with Styrofoam popcorn, wadded-up newspapers or some other material, the product being shipped has a chance to safely reach its destination. As long as companies can afford the warehouse space needed to house all the boxed inventory, they have little incentive to obtain space-saving boxes.
As long as fuel is cheap enough to haul a pre-set amount of traditionally-boxed goods, companies don’t consider finding a way to haul more product per trip. However, today’s increasing fuel and rent prices make it hard for companies to stay afloat. They simply cannot continue doing things the same way they’ve always done things. It’s time to “think outside the box.”
The Solution
If you store and ship boxed products, you likely need to seriously upgrade the boxes you use. Savvy companies now use a cloud-based data management computer system (packaging management) to create tailored packages and packaging systems. Packaging systems include individual component boxes that fit neatly together with the product’s other boxed components in one box. Little space is wasted in any of the boxes.
The fitted cardboard protects the components going down the supply chain. The improved box integrity that the more compressed component parts’ cardboard creates protects the finished product when it’s shipped to the customer. Reduced damage in shipment reduces the likelihood you’ll have to pay customers for items damaged in transit.
As you can see, the boxes that you would create with a specification data management system would lower costs, reduce waste and increase efficiencies. If prices continue to soar, the efficient boxes you could create for your supply chain with this technology will help your business survive.
What is Specification Data Management System?
As mentioned, managing your packaging involves the creation of tailored packaging using a high-tech specification data management platform. The cloud-based platform would serve as a hub for your specification data so that your authorized suppliers and your enterprise could access the data. Internal and external users could access the data you input 24/7 because the platform is cloud-based.
In addition to containing your packaging information, the platform can hold your company’s ingredient, raw material, formula and/or product specifications. Some colleges charge $7,000 to explore the various technological options for creating tailored packaging. Rest assured that a good specification data management system is top-tier technology.
More Specification Data Management System Features
The system uses your data to create configurable templates. Templates increase transparency. Other features include patented standardized data ingestion, intelligent document processing and a duplicate spec alert. The very best of this kind of system would link your specs down to the raw materials and on through to the finished goods. This would make data more searchable and traceable, making your data highly useable for your business.
The very best specification data management system would also make every field reportable and shareable, enabling quick group decisions. After all, you would need everybody on the same page. This system would increase your data’s accuracy. It would also include spec comparison, validation rules, history and revision tracking and special intelligence.
Setup is Easy
Setup starts with digitization, which is the process of entering your information into the system. This is when you link things together, creating traceability. Once you’ve entered and linked your company’s data, you leverage real-time data. This includes details about quality issues and what actions were taken. Bringing external supply chain partners into the loop is crucial. All your dealing with the various entities and all of your company’s policies should live here.
You survived the pandemic. Now you need to survive the never-ending runaway prices for everything. And the right packaging management can help you with that.
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