Developments in various packaging production processes along the supply chain can cause unwanted consequences that could result in product compromise.
Having an efficient, optimized packaging process and supply chain is an important part of any business. Each distinguished process helps to inform its previous and subsequent action, warranting the need to account for any potential difficulties throughout the entire process. A failure to do so effectively can lead to product compromise, which could conceivably tarnish a brand name and lead to unsatisfied customers.
Side effects of the supply chain
The number of ways in which a product can be compromised is manifold. Many times problems arise from human error and mishandled products, but in some instances, issues arise simply in distinction to the packaging processes and machines that are utilized.
Flexible Packaging Magazine points out that one suspect of product compromise is static electricity often found in the plastics industry in which contaminants, such as large amounts of dust, can be attracted to the product. This phenomenon tends to manifest itself when synthetic materials such as polyethylene are used along the supply chain and packaging process over time, building up a charge after repeated production. Usually a minor shock, something with a static charge, does not always seem like a particularly dangerous side effect but it can be detrimental to units over time. The static discharge may additionally cause the machinery to mis-feed, which will inevitably compromise the integrity and consistency of the product. Ensuring that the proper packaging equipment like stretch film machines, which deal heavily with synthetic material, is used will greatly reduce the risk involved in this industry.
Preventing contaminants during packaging process
The attraction of dust is just one of many ways in which products such as medical supplies and food could be jeopardized as a result of supply chain or packaging processes. Packaging Digest explains there are a number of hazards, specifically in the food production industry, unaccounted for within the structure of the manufacturing facility. Consider the makeup of the building housing both the machinery and the product; any structure - be it a table, cabinet, overhead framework or guard rail - can be a major contributor to the contamination of the food product. For this reason it is important to certify that all surfaces are sanitized to meet and/or exceed FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) regulations for safe packaging.
While static electricity, structural hazards and packaging equipment have the potential to harm products in the supply chain, this does not mean they should be discredited. The precision and speed with which they operate can prevent human error and increase efficiency. Ultimately, the best way to prevent this kind of contamination is to make sure that innovative packaging solutions are implemented in order to get the most out of machines and packaging equipment while limiting possible hazards.
