Title Evaluation of secondary packages for Tetra Top on the Italian
market? supportive tools for decision-making.
Authors Viktor Eriksson and Monica Towman.
Supervisors Annika Olsson, Department of Design Sciences, Division of
Packaging Logistics, Lund Institute of Technology, Lund University.
Armando Francione, Technical Director, Tetra Pak Italiana S.p.A.
Problem
Setting
? What requirements do the actors in the supply chain have on the
secondary packages?
? What are the values and benefits of different secondary
packages for the actors in the supply chain?
? What are the pros and cons of the secondary packages currently
on the market in Italy?
? Is there a ?best choice? among the different secondary
packages?
Objective To evaluate different secondary packages at three dairies in Italy.
Provide Tetra Pak and future customers with key requirements and
supportive tools for decision-making regarding suitable secondary
package(s) to implement together with the Tetra Top primary
package.
Method This master?s thesis is based on a descriptive case study.
Observations and interviews form the qualitative base whereas
quantitative data has been collected with questionnaires.
Conclusions The big variety of demands and requirements from different
customers preclude the possibility of finding one universal secondary
package suitable for all supply chains. Often, it is also unsuitable to
use the same packaging system for different distribution channels
with different properties.
Three evaluation tools have been developed to facilitate choice of
suitable secondary package(s) to implement according to the
individual requirements from future customers.
Packaging Function Analysis ? analyses values and benefits, but also
failings of existing packaging systems for different actors in the
supply chains.
Strengths and Weaknesses Tables ? comprehensive collections of
pros and cons regarding packaging systems currently on the Italian
market.
Conclusive Packaging Evaluation Matrix ? objectively grades a
variety of key properties of different secondary packages. Can be
used with two different methods of application.
Other thesis conclusions:
? Activities related to the secondary packages are clearly
dominated by logistical aspects on the observed market.
Marketing aspects are of no great concern as secondary packages
are rarely displayed to end-consumers; also, environmental
aspects play a minor, but growing, role.
? It is hard to optimize a packaging solution for the whole supply
chain. Reducing the complexity at one actor can increase
complexity at another actor in the supply chain.
? I...
