Maven masthead
July/August 2010

Maven (also mavin) N: A trusted expert in a particular field, who seeks to pass knowledge on to others. Maven comes from Yiddish, and means one who understands, based on  knowledge.

 The PTIS Maven comes to you from Packaging & Technology Integrated Solutions. As packaging moves to a strategic function, we give you innovation, strategies and technology ideas to add value to your brands through packaging.



This PTIS Associate contributed insights to the issue:
Anne Bieler
Anne Bieler is a PTIS Associate with more than 25 years of experience in packaging development. Prior to PTIS, she worked with Cryovac/Sealed Air. She's an author, speaker and expert on both consumer packaging and retail issues.




Big packaging recalls hit news . . .
. . . as packagers pull items from stores. Three steps can help you protect yourself from recalls: Have expertise in place. Actively manage quality.  Assess your process.
 
Click here for a PTIS Management Checklist

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Packaging & Technology Integrated Solutions

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Copyright 2010. Packaging & Technology Integrated Solutions, LLC. All rights reserved. All links are accurate at the time of publication.
To cut costs, look at the whole picture
The low-hanging fruit on the cost-cutting tree has been picked. And the way to get the good stuff that's higher up the tree comes from looking at the big picture. At PTIS, we call it Holistic Package Optimization (HPO). It looks at the packaging lifecycle from raw materials to disposal. Here are some key places to look:
  • When the consumer uses the package.
  • Modeling and simulation software. Finite element analysis isn't common in packaging, investigate its advantages
  • Distribution channels. If you save, and the retailer incurs added cost to handle a package, it is a no-win situation. 

Click here for a PTIS Management Checklist on Holistic Package Optimization
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Retail shifts push packaging changes
The "new normal" economy intensifies retailers' pace of change as they compete for a slice of the consumer's wallet. Take advantage of the changes by looking at these focal points:
  • Have a strategy to deal with "private brands." It's not your mom's store brand anymore.
  • Design packaging to work in specific retail channels.
  • For retail-ready packaging, look to Walmart Canada as North America's bellwether.
Click here for a PTIS Management Checklist on Retail Packaging
Above all, manage packaging security
There are lots of good security technologies out there. To be effective, you need a management framework to select the right one. That's advice from John Spink, Ph.D., who is part of Michigan State University's anti-counterfeiting program.
  • Define what your company means by "security." Tactics for anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft initiatives differ.
  • Know, in-depth, what the risk is. What is the scale? Is there a public health impact?
  • Know the risk's nature. What kind of person is involved?
 Click here for a PTIS Management Checklist on packaging security
Info your peers find useful
Here are the top three PTIS Management Checklists that readers have downloaded from the our website in recent months:
  • Justification grid helps you sell ideas "up the chain of command." Click here for a download.
  • Go for top packaging talent beyond your staff. Click here
  • How to sell innovation within your company. Click here