Pack Expo: RPA conference sessions announced

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, Coca Cola, the Alpha Baking Company and leading providers of services and products for reusable packaging will share the successes and challenges of implementing reusable packaging systems at this month’s Pack Expo in Las Vegas. The speakers are participating in the Reusable Packaging Association’s (RPA) two conference sessions as part of the Sustainability Track of the Conference at the show. The educational sessions are designed to help attendees address the issues facing users and potential users of reusable packaging.

The key topics that will be addressed at the sessions include stakeholder alignment, the cost of implementing a change in packaging operations and asset management. Ghirardelli Chocolate Company will discuss how switching to reusable packaging improved the quality of their product by reducing crushing, enabling them to reduce 660 tons of corrugated waste and saved 65,000 corrugated cases. Coca Cola will share its insights about the cost considerations that factored into their decision-making process when implementing a reusable packaging system.  The Alpha Baking Company will take participants on a video tour of their operation and explore some of the lessons learned from implementing an RFID tracking system to manage their reusable assets. Presenters from RPA member companies include Container and Pooling Solutions, Tosca Ltd, The Kennedy Group, and ORBIS Corporation.

Session One: Reusables 102 - Implementing a Sustainable Reusable Transport Packaging System; Monday, September 26, 2011 (N-259 Second Floor North Building)

Session One, Part A (10:15 - 11:15 a.m.) will introduce attendees to the reusable packaging curriculum and resources available from the RPA to help end users find reusable solutions to meet their specific transport packaging needs. This will be followed by a presentation and panel discussion of how to implement a reusable solution, including how to align the resources and key personnel critical to building a successful reusable solution. Vellay Kannappen, Director of Supply Chain Planning for Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, will give his presentation at this session.

“Stakeholder alignment is a crucial component of implementing a successful reusable packaging solution in today’s supply chain, but we really don’t talk enough about this important step,” said Bob Klimko, Director of Marketing & Sustainability, ORBIS Corporation. “In this session we will delve into the challenges of integrating reusable throughout the company’s business operations.”

Session One, Part B (11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) will focus on better understanding the financial structure and decisions which must be made at this important second phase of implementing a successful reusable packaging strategy. Coca Cola will share its insights about cost considerations that factored into their decision-making process when implementing a reusable packaging system. Other presenters at this session include Bob Klimko, Director of Marketing & Sustainability, ORBIS Corporation; Drew Merrill, Container and Pooling Solutions (CAPS); and Andy DeWitt, TOSCA.

“Every company wants to know and understand the cost of implementing a change in their packaging operations,” said Merrill. “Once the right type of container is selected and the costs of the containers are known, companies need to make a ‘make or buy’ decision for container ownership. In this session we will explore this question and help companies determine which option is right for them.”

Session Two: Managing and Protecting Your Reusable Packaging Assets; Tuesday, September 27, 2011; (N-259 Second Floor North Building)

Part A 9-10:00 a.m. This two-part program is designed to help end users of reusable packaging better understand the issue of product loss, and develop systematic approaches to better manage their valuable reusable resources. From a simple paper and pencil accounting system to complex RFID solutions, managing a company’s reusable assets is an important part of the supply chain process. This two-part session will feature presentations, an end user panel discussion, and best practices case studies to help users minimize loss of their valuable assets. Presenters include Keith Schall of Container and Pooling Solutions Inc.

“In any asset management program, a company must first understand whether controls are in place to identify true asset loss rate and the general industry guidelines for loss,” said Keith Schall, CAPS. “In this session we will provide an overview of available asset management systems. We’ll look at simple paper-and-pencil methodology to complex high-tech tracking systems, and finally look at how to develop the processes necessary to create actionable and enforceable data to ensure compliance throughout the company.”

Part B (10:15 – 11:15 a.m.)
Pat Kennedy, President of the Kennedy Group, will take participants on a video tour of the Alpha Baking Company to explore the company’s lessons learned from implementing an RFID tracking system to manage their reusable assets.
 
Also at PACK EXPO, the RPA is hosting a comprehensive Reusable Packaging Pavilion that will showcase products and services for reusable packaging from 23 industry leaders, as well as membership information at the RPA booth #6063. In addition, the RPA is hosting its annual Networking Reception for members and their invited guests. Complete information on all RPA activities at PACKEXPO can be found at http://reusables.org/pack-expo-las-vegas-2011. The RPA activities at PACK EXPO are sponsored by CHEP, IFCO Systems, iGPS, Brüel, Buckhorn and Schoeller Arca Systems, Inc.

Modern’s Pack Expo Coverage.