Does this sound like you? Every day you're packaging product and moving it on pallets. Nothing has changed in your system for years, decades even. It works, but as the cycle repeats (and repeats, and repeats) you keep wondering if you're leaking profits. We have all heard the definition of insanity, "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." This is Bill Murray's character, Phil in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day. It takes Phil most of the movie to understand this.
0 Comments
Early in my career, I was introduced to the CEO of the company that had just hired me to help make plastic pallets. "Mr. Leo" as he was affectionately called, shook my hand and welcomed me to the team. To help me get my head around what I had just gotten myself into, Mr. Leo said, "Our pallets cost a lot of money. But remember. They are the cheapest product out there!"
In previous discussions about pallets, I touched on the nature of the load that a pallet might be expected to handle. If you are a pallet geek like me, the term “unit load” is often used to describe the goods that are configured in such a way as to be easily handled by that pallet.
So, I guess the unit load is and has always been associated with pallets, right? Well, not exactly. Although we can trace the use of pallets all the way back to ancient times, the common use of pallets to handle the unit load did not get going until World War II. Will a return program transform your expendable packaging expenses into reusable packaging assets?
Start by asking yourself four key questions about your packaging usage and distribution system. If you're in charge of material handling, you are constantly being looked at for the answers.
This time product is getting damaged in the warehouse or coming back after being shipped. An ongoing problem being blamed on careless workers. Have you noticed a change in your LTL shipping charges?
The methodology that LTL carriers are using to determine their rates is changing. This is in follow up to what the major parcel shippers (UPS and FedEx) have already done. |
Call Us: (410) 477-3000
Headquartered in Baltimore since 1918 Nelson Company is a trusted source for pallets & packaging materials.
NelsonCompany.com Is your packaging system costing more than it should? Find out how you can start saving with an analysis from Nelson Technical Center.
Our own web-based software for reverse distribution. Nelson-ART™ manages the entire life-cycle of your packaging assets.
|