Despatching Advice for Component Manufacturers
If your company makes components or you are an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), then the chances are that your product packaging will not be fully developed. Whereas finished product manufacturers usually have products in ready-to-display packages, such as blister packs, for example, component makers tend to use whatever packaging they have to hand. When you need to fulfil a customer order, not having suitable packaging readily available can make your entire dispatching operation fall down. What should smaller operators do to ensure their deliveries of components arrive at their intended destination in mint condition?
Long and Thin Components
If you make items which are both long and thin, then wrapping them in bubble wrap and using parcel tape to seal the ends of the consignment means that your goods can arrive in a less than professional state. Instead, you should use mailing tubes for anything that is not suited to a conventional cardboard box. Light and easy for couriers to handle, a mailing tube will protect longer items from bending under stress, even if other items are thrown over them. In addition, a package of this type can handle delicate items, such as glassware, so long as you fill the tube with something soft, like polystyrene chips, to ensure the contents are properly protected.
Small Components
When you have a consignment of very small items to deliver, the best thing to use is plain resealable plastic bags. Let's imagine that you need to count out ten electrical resistors of one type for an order and then eight of another. It would be easy to get them muddled up midway through the job of picking them. Resealable or zip lock plastic bags are transparent so you can check the quantities of small components without needing to open them or spill their contents. What's more, you can keep different items separate from one another which is especially useful for components that resemble one another.
General Components
When you are despatching medium-sized components, fold up cardboard boxes remain the best way of dispatching them. However, never try to stuff too many components into a single box or they could get damaged in transit. Leave at least one-third of the space of any box you use available for soft, protective packaging. A good tip is to shred your unwanted files and paper records and use this material for padding out packages before sending them. Not only does it work well, but it is free!