DISTRIBUTION CENTRE MANAGEMENT

SIGNIFICANCE OF PACKAGING SYMBOLS...

The symbols show the information of each good’s characteristics.
The purpose of the symbols is to convey the messages to the people who are handling the goods or using the goods so as to prevent any dangers or damages to the people or the goods.

Firstly, let’s said that Good A has the symbol of flammable goods, we will know that we should keep this good away from fire. This not only ensures our safety, and it is also to ensure that the good is not damaged and we do not have to pay for the losses. In other words, we do not disappoint our customers – high customer satisfaction.

Secondly, the symbols can also help us in preparation for any dangers happen. As we have mentioned about the flammable goods, we will know how to handle the situation when there is accident happens. For example, in a ship the flammable goods are normally placed on top of all the goods, when there is a fire in a ship, we should not only fight the fire, we should also quickly throw the flammable goods out to the sea to prevent all the goods being burned by the huge fire caused by flammable goods. This is to minimise the losses we will incur and to reduce the casualties.

Thirdly, for the purpose of effective warehousing operations, it is important for us to be environmentally-friendly. There are 2 symbols – recycled and recyclable symbols. If our recyclable goods have become obsolete, we know that it will be a waste to throw them away. Eventually, we will bring the goods to the recycle centre to recycle our goods so as to save the resources. Therefore, obsolete goods may not be the cause of the high inventory costs but it may be the opportunity to earn the money back by recycling them.

Lastly, it is to convey the message to us on how to handle the goods and choosing the transportation modes. For example, some goods may need special care or highly-valued so eventually we know that airplane is suitable for transporting the goods to our customers. Another example is that without the “fragile” symbol on the good, the rough and careless workers might handle the goods without care by stacking and throwing the cartons of goods around on the floor. However, with the symbol, it is like a warning to them in handling the goods with care because they need to pay for the losses if the goods are damaged.

Packaging Symbols

Below are a number of symbols often seen on packaging. Each has a specific meaning. The symbols are normally very simple and easy to understand.

This symbol reminds those handling the package to keep out of the rain and not to store it in damp conditions. it is normally found on card based packages which would be damaged if placed in contact with water.

The broken wine glass suggests that the product inside the packaging could be easily damaged if dropped or handled without care and attention. The contents are fragile!

The two hands holding or protecting the package is another reminder that the contents should be handled with care.

The symbol seen opposite tells those handling the package that it must be stored the right way up. The arrows point towards the top of the package.

The symbol showing the thermometer is found mainly on packages containing food and drink. The symbol clearly shows that the contents should be stored at a temperature between 10 and 20 degrees (centigrade).

Types of Packaging for Break Bulk Cargo

1. Bagged Cargo

The commodity itself has to be robust to withstand outside pressure and compression for the bags will only hold the contents in one place and will not provide protection against external damage. Such commodities are: fertilizers, grain, seeds, dried fruit, sugar, coconut, coffee, flour, salt etc.

2. Fibreboard Boxes and Cartons

They are widely used because they are cheap and economy efficient. Able to withstand normal transport hazards and protect the contents against loss of damage. If in transit, the carton boxes may have to be placed onto a pallet and properly strap in order to protect them from pilferage and damage.

3. Wooden Cases

These have stood the test of time and the main advantage is that they have wall strength to support superimposed loads. They are more expensive than cartontype packing due to the cost of the wood.

They are suitable when goods are carried by conventional methods and when they are sensitive to heat, dampness etc. The goods may require protection by way of packing with layers of insulating materials, tar paper, sealed plastic covering etc.

4. Wooden Crates

Suitable for wooden packages built like a skeleton. The open crate can be used when the contents are sufficiently resilient to require a minimal form of packaging to facilitate handling and stowage. Sometimes, it is used as an outer package to consolidate fibreboard boxes or give cartons extra protection, e.g. use for carriage of large pieces of machinery.

5. Drums, Barrels, Casks.

Generally used for liquid such as latex, chemical, whisky, detergents, oil, paints, powders, cement etc.

6. Shrink Wrapping

Dry chemicals, granular and powdered substances in bags cannot be easily strapped on to a pallet. When these items have to be utilized, bags are stowed on the pallet and interlocked; a polythene sheet of suitable gauge is then draped over the bags. This unit is then passed through a tunnel oven where polythene is heat-sealed tight, binding the bags to the pallet to form a good unit load.

7. Preservation against Corrosion

Machinery when being packed for export by sea has to be preserved against humidity and corrosion. All open parts are chemically treated and sometimes greased. The best preservation is to vaccuum-seal the machine. Some other methods involve the use of sufficient quantity of silica gel, depending on the volume of the package.

LOGISTICAL PACKAGING UNITS

Unit Load
- Consumer products packed in individual cans, and then packed inside fibreboard cartons, which are loaded onto a pallet.
- This pallet load is referred to as an unit load.

Unitisation
- Known as Palletisation.
- The process to form an unit load.

Containerisation
- The process of unit loads carried and loaded abroad a trailer, railcar or ocean-going container.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROTECTIVE PACKAGING...

Foam Packaging

Foam is most popular when your main aim is cushioning. For basic single-drop protection, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is usually recommended as it is the most economical option.

In between this range, a host of other material is also available.

Foam packaging can be moulded or fabricated. Moulding requires tooling and in line with Jebsen & Jessen Packaging's commitment to a greener environment, all foam material used do not contain CFC and are recyclable.

Some common items that benefit from foam packaging:

· Computer Peripherals

· Consumer electronics (black goods)

· Home appliances (white goods)

· Electronic components

· Office equipment

· Live tropical fish

· Furniture

Plastic Packaging

For more demanding requirements such as multiple-drop protection for the cushioning of highly sensitive products, more resilient material such as Expanded Polyethylene (EPE), Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) or ARCEL are the likelier choice.is justified for larger packaging quantities. For shorter lead times and lower tool costs, fabricating is a better option.

When cushioning is not your top concern, the choice of material widens to include thermoforming plastic and corrugated plastic boards.

Thermoforming is a process where a thin sheet of plastic is heated till it is soft and then formed into shape. The key advantage of this material is that it has very good dimensional accuracy, low tooling costs, short lead time and high throughput during production.

Usually the material is transparent and allows your product to be seen even when it is packed.

Corrugated plastic boxes and containers are usually used in place of normal paper carton boxes when the packaging is for repeated use. Besides being more durable, it is also easy to clean and is available in bright colours.

Some common items that benefit from plastic packaging:

· Automotive parts

· Consumer electronics (black goods)

· Home appliances (white goods)

· Computer peripherals

· Electronic components

· Medical and pharmaceutical products

Paper Packaging

Moulded paper, more commonly known as moulded fibre or moulded pulp, is manufactured from recycled paper. Two types of moulded fibre are available: hot-pressed and non-pressed. Packaging for cushioning or holding items in place can be designed and produced using this material.

Paper packaging made by converting corrugated paper boards is suited for protecting products that require lower levels of cushioning. The production process is relatively simple but the design demands can be very high for turning a basic corrugated paper board into an effective packaging solution from cutting, folding and gluing.

It is not uncommon for the customer to commission Jebsen & Jessen Packaging to design two forms of cushioned packaging, one in foam and the other in paper, to cater to specific market requirements.

The former is cost-effective while the latter is perceived to be more environmentally friendly in some countries.

Some common items that benefit from paper packaging:

· Consumer electronics (black goods)

· Home appliances (white goods)

· Computer peripherals and consumables

· Mobile phones

· Medical and pharmaceutical products

· Furniture

Wood Packaging

To cater to mounting customer needs, Jebsen & Jessen Packaging has expanded its expertise and product line to include wood packaging.

This comes in the form of a simple wooden pallet, crate or container to protect and transport usually large million-dollar equipment.

Each process from conceptual design to final delivery is carefully and professionally executed to the satisfaction of the customer. Even the way your products can be easily unpacked is taken into consideration.

The wood material used is renewable, and in-house heat treatment ensures that no bug takes a free ride from one country to another. You can leave your whole back-end requirements in the capable hands of packaging experts.

Some common items that benefit from wood packaging:

· Computer servers

· High-value office equipment

· Advanced technology machinery

· Telecommunications equipment

· Automotive and aircraft parts

Integrated Packaging

Sometimes, the best packaging solution is not confined to using a single material. Featuring a pool of talented design engineers with diverse experience, Jebsen & Jessen Packaging crafts out the best and most cost-efficient solution for you.

Armed with a complete understanding of your packaging requirements, the designers will regard each project with a material-neutral approach to work out feasible integrated packaging solutions. Many of these solutions have become award-winning models throughout the history of the organisation.

Some common items that benefit from integrated packaging:

· Consumer electronics (black goods)

· Home appliances (white goods)

· Office equipment

· Electronic components

· Telecommunications equipment

· Automotive and aircraft parts

Do you know that we must look at the characterisitcs of the products before you can choose your packaging materials?

view this website to get clearer image - http://www.packagingsolutionsllc.com/

FUNCTIONS OF PACKAGING...

The various functions of packaging are divided into primary, secondary and tertiary functions. In contrast with the primary functions, which primarily concern the technical nature of the packaging, secondary functions relate to communications. Primary, secondary and tertiary functions are divided into the following sub-functions:

Primary functions
Protective function

Storage function

Loading & Transport function

Secondary functions
Sales function

Promotional function

Service function

Guarantee function

Tertiary functions
Additional function

HOWEVER, we only want to focus on the PRIMARY functions of packaging.

Protective function

essentially involves protecting the contents from the environment and vice versa
the inward protection function intended to ensure full retention of the utility value of the packaged goods
intended to protect the goods from loss, damage and theft
able to withstand the many different static and dynamic forces to which it is subjected during transport, handling and storage operations
require protection from climatic conditions, such as temperature, humidity, precipitation and solar radiation, which may require "inward packaging measures" in addition to any "outward packaging measures"
the outward protection provided by the packaging must prevent any environmental degradation by the goods
this requirement is of particular significance in the transport of hazardous materials, with protection of humans being of primary importance
must furthermore as far as possible prevent any contamination, damage or other negative impact upon the environment and other goods
the inward and outward protective function primarily places demands upon the strength, resistance and leakproof properties of transport packaging

Storage Function

the packaging materials and packaging containers required for producing packages must be stored in many different locations both before packaging of the goods and once the package contents have been used

Loading & Transportation Function

has a crucial impact on the efficiency of transport, handling and storage of goods
designed to be easily handled and to permit space-saving storage and stowage
the shape and strength of packages should be such that they may not only be stowed side by side leaving virtually no voids but may also be stowed safely one above the other
most efficient method of handling general cargo is to make up cargo units
always facilitate the formation of cargo units; package dimensions and the masses to be accommodated should where possible be tailored to the dimensions and load-carrying capacity of standard pallets and containers
where handling is to be entirely or partially manual, packages must be easy to pick up and must be of a suitably low mass.
heavy goods must be accommodated in packages which are well suited to mechanical handling
such items of cargo must be forkliftable and be provided with convenient load-bearing lifting points for the lifting gear, with the points being specially marked where necessary (handling marks)
places requirements upon the external shape of the package, upon the mass of the goods accommodated inside and upon the convenient use of packaging aids
strength of the package required for stowing goods on top of each other demonstrates the close relationship between the loading and transport function and the protective function