Is your Packaging Routine feeling like Groundhog Day?

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.

Break out of the endless Groundhog Day loop. Ask the right questions to get a better pallet and better results.

Get Better Results
Companies spend a lot of money attempting to achieve different results. They implement new processes and hire consultants. Plenty of questions are asked, but then things stall.

You may have tried the "5S Organization" process for systematically eliminating waste and improving flow. Or maybe you considered the "5 Why's" strategy for problem solving and decision making. These are great tools, but are you asking the right questions to break the endless Groundhog Day loop?  

Ask the Right Questions for Getting a Better Pallet

1. Shipping Cycle
   Is my shipment a one-way trip or will the pallet get reused at the destination or returned? This can truly add value to the delivery and lower your cost per shipment. But, what will it cost? Don’t guess, run the numbers!
     
2. Weight
   How much weight is being applied to the pallet? Is it evenly distributed, and how will it be handled? Am I choosing a material that can safely get my shipment to the destination without excess material? Perform a load analysis to determine the right thickness and type of material.
     
3. Durability
   Will a forklift be pushing it across the floor, will it be stored in a rack, or just loaded and shipped with minimal handling to the destination? Know how your product is being handled during the shipping process.
     
4. Design
   Don’t default to buying standard pallets that may be WAY overbuilt for most of your shipments and under spec’d for the remaining shipments. Engineer the pallet for the load to achieve the best cost/shipment ratio.
     
5. Cost
   Besides the initial pallet cost, can I save enough weight and money in my shipping cost to pick a different pallet? A different pallet material and/or size may change the density of the total shipment and lower costs. Comparing materials in these scenarios is worth looking at to ensure you gain efficiency.

​Break the Repeating Loop of Groundhog Day

Change is what allows Phil to finally escape the seemingly endless repetition of Groundhog Day. Change is hard. We get that. But sticking with that old pallet or packaging design may be costing more than you know.

Talk with a pallet expert today. We know a thing or two about finding ways to reduce your total cost of ownership (in places you may not have known to look). Post your questions below or get in touch for expert pallet and packaging advice.

Post by: Tyler Pease, Technical Sales Consultant