AIP forum covers package code management

‘The Packaging Supply Chain’ is the theme behind the fourth biennial AIP National Technical Forum, which will be held alongside Auspack Plus 2011.

Phil Biggs, National Sales and Marketing Manager for forum sponsor Matthews Intelligent Identification, says the forum will discuss key stages of the packaging supply chain.

“It’s a very comprehensive line-up: beginning with innovation and design, and going right through to shelf-ready and consumer packaging,” Phil says.

“Importantly, the in-depth discussions over the two days from 23-24 March will also look at production lines and equipment. This is an area where manufacturers can lose or gain profit, yet it’s an area that’s easy to overlook because shop floor staff and management can’t clearly see what is actually happening on production lines.”

Phil says package code management (PCM) eliminates coding errors.

“While a business can estimate costs caused by coding errors, putting an accurate figure on your exact costs can be impossible. Mostly, this is because fixing coding errors is not measured as part of a plant’s efficiency. It’s highly unlikely to be a KPI [key performance indicator], because coding is not core business - despite its importance to the core business.

“If staff see and note or fix the problem, then any resources such as time, consumables and so on used on product rework may simply be included as ‘lowering production line efficiency’, but without the exact reasons for that inefficiency being understood. If these resources aren’t identified, then that line will just be seen as having lower efficiency compared with benchmarks.

“But really, in either scenario, the true cost is hidden by the fact that the plant has no ability to capture that information directly.

“However, use a PCM solution - which integrates coding systems into business systems - and manufacturers now have a strategic approach to coding. Their plant also instantly has real-time, in-depth information. The beauty of that in aiding decision making will be seen in well-planned and suited capital expenditure, and increased profits.”

Phil’s topic at the forum is ‘Packaging code management software solutions to manage product traceability up and down a supply chain’. He is one of the 21 speakers lined up for the AIP National Technical Forum, which includes several overseas experts.