Ignore packaging at your peril, warns 3M

Packaging is one of the last remaining unclaimed frontiers for manufacturing companies, including those in the pharmaceutical industry. Tackling the operations and integration of this part of the business could save millions of dollars a year.

This is the conclusion of 3M's new Global Packaging Services group, which recently introduced a suite of tools and services designed to help its customers manage packaging related issues more effectively.

The group was formed after 3M undertook a look at its own manufacturing processes and determined that it would be possible to reduce packaging expenses by $50 million (€43m) over five years through a centralisation and streamlining programme.

"We worked with in-house experts in package engineering, logistics, information technology, manufacturing and other disciplines,"​ said John Pohl, vice president of 3M's industrial services and solutions division. This gave the company a thorough understanding of the critical issues in packaging, including enabling compliance, speeding time to market, managing product surety, reducing packaging costs and increasing productivity and throughput.

"Most companies focus on R&D and manufacturing, but have not considered packaging to be a strategic tool or a cost centre. This missed opportunity is costing companies millions of dollars,"​ said Pohl.

Automation​

Meanwhile, 3M has formed a new group dedicated to automating the packaging process for companies in the life science, chemical and food industries. The company claims that the group can help customers increase productivity.

The group is offering packaging design, engineering and technical support services, with a focus on packaging line design, integration, installation, training and technical support.