Decision makers at consumer packaged goods brands often prioritize sourcing, production and distribution when seeking to optimize supply chains and logistics. Recognizing the critical role of packaging throughout the life cycle of consumer goods and working with the right custom flexible packaging partner supports optimization at these critical stages of bringing products to market. Find out more about the far-reaching operational benefits of flexible packaging.
How Packaging Can Help Your Supply Chain
A packaging provider can make or break the efficiency of production and distribution. The ability to place an order for the precise amount of packaging you need as rollstock or formed pouches can expedite the production and distribution of products while reducing waste.
It is important to be able to predict how long it will take to receive custom packaging. A packaging partner that runs a global digital manufacturing platform can offer lead times between five and 15 business days. The benefits of flexible packaging continue through subsequent stages of the product life cycle.
Benefits of Package Optimization
Flexible packaging can be the best choice for practically any product, but this type of packaging is not one-size-fits-all. A packaging partner can help your company select the best materials and develop a design for any product.
While printed Mylar bags can offer optimal durability, pouches with gussets or other structural features provide more protection for delicate contents. Good package design supports broader supply chain and logistical optimization by reducing the risk of loss due to damage during transportation, storage and display.
Why To Use Just-In-Time Manufacturing
A networked flexible packaging provider can also provide just-in-time manufacturing. This means that your company can order from the nearest production facility with short lead times, low minimum order quantities and the ability to print variable package designs in the same order. Just-in-time manufacturing can reduce waste in the form of obsolescent packaging.
The ability to order the exact quantity of packaging you need when you need it is invaluable when scaling production. These features are also useful when products are still in the development process and could require changes to labeling or for making seasonal or other limited-edition offerings more cost effective for small-to-medium sized CPG companies.
Flexible Packaging for More Efficient Distribution
A comparatively light weight and compact size make flexible packaging a better choice for distribution than rigid containers. More units of items in flexible packages can fit in the same amount of space as bulky and heavy packaging. Furthermore, flexible materials allow for a higher ratio of product to packaging. This translates to the ability to fit more products in less space and generate less emissions during distribution.
Growing or established CPG companies can see quantifiable supply chain and logistical improvements from making the switch to flexible packaging. From the ease of sourcing flexible materials and ordering custom package designs to the production efficiency offered by preformed pouches and the efficiency of distributing products in flexible packaging, optimizing packaging can be a significant step towards streamlining operations.