Transportation logistics management

Respond to all 3 classmates post!!!!   3 

Original post
This week’s reading discusses transport packaging. Discuss the major considerations about the distribution environment that must be understood before deciding upon the structural design of the package. 

Instructions:   Please post more than 2 reply responses of 100 or more words to your classmates or the instructor.  Responses should be a minimum of 100 words and include direct questions. 

Classmates post

1
Good evening, and Aloha class. I just returned from a trip to the grocery store and as I was walking the aisles, I noticed (seemingly for the first time) the variation of packaging designs that products are available in. For instance, cereal can come in a box or a plastic bag; peanuts can be sold in a plastic bag or a plastic jar (or glass jar). When we talk about structural design, the product chosen for packaging is a major determining factor for a company. 

In the case of food and groceries, most products are packaged in cardboard or plastic, but there are many sodas and soft drinks that also come in aluminum cans–however, they are grouped and sold together in a cardboard box. When considering the distribution channels a product will go through before it reaches the customer, the packaging integrity must be upheld to protect the products. 

Major considerations when designing a package start with the level of fragility the product has. For instance, shipping aluminum soda cans as individual units can be costly if the product falls in the truck or warehouse and leaks–in this case you have initial loss of product value as well as clean up costs. 

Moving away from the grocery concept, some products can be shipped quite simply. Furniture, such as couches or mattresses, are usually shipped wrapped in plastic to avoid external damage to the surface. This packaging serves the purpose for the product no matter what the distribution channels are. 

The level of protection needed for a product mainly depends on the mode of transport used to complete shipment. Since most material makes its way to its end destination via truck, packaging needs to protect the product from damage in the event a less-than-truckload shipment is utilized, since this environment can allow products to shift and fall. 

-Andrew

2
I will begin by saying that I never really thought about how much consideration goes into the actual design of a package when it comes to marketing.  A lot of times when you think of packaging and mail industries, I personally think of the plain brown box sitting at my door with an Amazon sticker on it!  But after I read the chapter of course material on “Defining Packaging Design”, I really started to ponder about the effect these designs have on even me as a consumer. 

I think one of the most important factors to consider about the distribution environment before designing a package is what is popular in the market at the moment.  I think of all of the food products that started to label their products as gluten free once that whole craze began.  That would catch a costumer’s eye and really make them consider the health value of the product in comparison to those that did not contain the same label.  I also believe that easy-to-use is another aspect to take into consideration when developing manufactured goods. We have all had to tackle with those awful plastic packages that require a knife, scissors and a chainsaw to get into, still resulting in a cut somewhere on your hands! A flaw such as that might really make people think twice about purchasing or recommending your product.

I ultimately believe that your target audience for your product is the most important factor to consider.  Simplicity and a unique label for whatever you are trying to put in a package, play a huge role in what type of blueprint you should go with.  If you are a new company starting out, then you need to plan on how exactly you are going to set yourself aside from the competitors and make your personal product shine in the market!  If you are a company that has already made a name for itself, then you need to take feedback from your buyers in order to continue to evolve your product to its fullest potential.  For example, are the words on the labels easy to read, or do they need to be increased/decreased?  Once you start with an initial design, you should continue to accept feedback on how to flourish your packaging design due to the needs of those who will be purchasing and/or selling your product.

3
There are a number of topics that need to be considered when deciding upon the structural design of a package for products.  The environment of the distribution system varies depending on a number of things and these effects the way a package needs to assembled for products.  Companies need to consider the ways to ensure protection for their products, effectiveness of packaging, and a number of other factors when deciding on the structural design of the packages for products (Fiedler, 2014).  Companies need to take into consideration how the package will be transported.  If the product is going to be shipped through UPS, it may need a little more protection in the package to prevent damage due to handling as well as potential damages from vibrations from the road that could cause a package to fall.  If the product is being transported on a pallet in a semi, the package will have less of a chance of being damaged and therefore not need extra projection.  Another consideration for deciding the structural design of a package is considering the type of product that is being packaged.  Products like soap are not as fragile as glass products and therefore don’t need protection like bubble wrap to ensure the protection of the product.  Companies also need to take into consideration the ability for a package to be stored in both the delivery process as well as the final destination of the package.  It is important for companies to package their products to meet these considerations so they can ensure an effective supply chain in order to provide services to their customers.