_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Packaging

Two key drivers of brand loyalty , service and product quality , can both be beneficially influenced by testing . When cultivating brand loyalty , it is easy to focus on product quality and concentrate efforts on producing an exceptional product , but if the product is damaged in transit this quality may never be realized by the purchaser . However , for many products there are no specified environmental test requirements . Where environmental testing is specified , it often only addresses the operational environment . The threats of the distribution environment are not considered , which is often the most severe environment that the product will encounter .

Manufacturers must also avoid overuse of materials to address sustainability concerns . It is therefore vital to test packaging efficiency to ensure it can protect the product in the distribution supply chain whilst avoiding overpackaging . Testing ensures that more sustainable packaging options will withstand the same environmental pressures as traditional materials , making sustainability a functional part of the product ’ s lifecycle rather than a compromise .

Testing must consider the environments that the product will experience - from being packaged to its final delivery destination . For example , this could include :

■ Bulk transport

■ Machine handling

■ Vibration and shock during transportation ( road , rail , air , sea )

■ Transportation climatic environment ( temperature , humidity , pressure )

■ Storage ( temperature , humidity , pressure , compression )

■ Packages being dropped during handling

■ Repacking for final dispatch

manufacturing-today . com 29