Packaging And Logistics Interactions In Retail Supply Chains

摘要

The impact of the packaging system on logistics processes along the supply chain is often implicitly and fragmentally recognized. In order to increase understanding of the impact of packaging on logistics, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the interactions between the packaging system and logistics processes in the retail supply chain. Tour case studies involving Swedish and Dutch retail supply chains were conducted to identify, describe and understand in depth the logistics activities related to packaging within these retail supply chains. The comprehensive overview provided in this paper serves as an elementary step towards understanding the role of packaging systems in logistics, which is a prerequisite for taking packaging and logistics decisions based on a supply chain perspective. Moreover, the paper provides a process-orientated description of what a packaging system must fulfil and perform along the retail supply chain. It also provides a means for evaluating packaging systems, with emphasis on logistics aspects. The interactions between the packaging system and the logistics processes identified in this research can be used to bridge the gap between logisticians and packaging engineers/designers/technicians/managers by enabling them to engage in a dialogue and understand where and how packaging and logistics decisions can impact the performance of packaging system and logistics processes in the retail supply chain.