Packaging supplies and services are like many commodities, all of us take them for granted until we become involved with them and realize what a vital part of the supply chain they really are.
Here are the top 7 things I learned about managing packaging services:
1. Nobody thinks about specific sizes of boxes - until they run out of them.
2. The volatile paper market causes the price of corrugated to fluctuate frequently. A good packaging company can help ease the pain and save you money adjusting their own inventory in response to market fluctuations.
3. There is a tremendous amount of cost savings here if one knows where to look. A good vendor rep is indispensable and will guide you to alternatives such as air pillows.
4. Your packaging vendor can custom make any size box for any size item your company sells. You will need to order a sizable amount, though, to get a reasonable price.
5. Cardboard boxes may be about as low-tech as items can be and some packaging companies have barely changed in years. However, there are modern dynamic packaging companies using online packaging, electronic invoicing/billing, and sophisticated computerized inventory management. Switch to one of them and you will be amazed at the difference.
6. I can't say enough positive things about the customer service at Uline, Inc (Uline Google Finance), which we used as supplement to our contracted vendor. Over a 2 year period, I was amazed that every single time I called the Uline 800 number to place an order or ask a question, their customer service was consistently perfect. Can you say that about the call center of any company with which you work on a regular basis? Also, delivery time was amazing. We never once encountered an out of stock situation.
7. Giant, industrial size bubble wrap is much better for popping than the smaller sizes available in regular stores.
Have you managed packaging services in your Procurement career? Send your Top 7 List to PurchaseRealm@ComprehensiveAdvice.com and I will share it with my readers.
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