Should You Outsource Packaging for Your Automotive Parts?

Packaging is often ignored in automotive parts manufacturing in order to meet production demands. Find out why outsourcing could be beneficial.

Automotive Packaging - Engine Packs

Unfortunately, packaging and order fulfillment often don’t get the attention they deserve. The result? Defective or insufficient packaging that leads to product damage, delayed vehicle repairs, unhappy customers, and increased costs.

The good news is that these problems can be avoided by working with the right automotive parts packaging partner.

The Sad Truth About Automotive Parts Manufacturing

As an automotive manufacturer, we don’t have to tell you about the seemingly impossible expectations placed on your company, including tight margins, on-time delivery, and maintaining constant part availability.

These pressures mean the focus is always on manufacturing and output rather than designing packaging. But, packaging is still important because it must be designed to protect the product from damage, not just during transportation but in storage, because service parts might sit on the shelves for months or even years. The packaging must also be space-efficient and easy to use (to avoid wasted time packing and unpacking).

If you don’t have the in-house resources to dedicate to parts packaging, now is the time to outsource. Working with the right partner can help you overcome some of the challenges of part packaging (and the associated supply chain expectations), including:

Tracking & Managing Inventory

automotive engine assembly

The wide variety of vehicles and powertrains built since the early days of the automobile means there’s demand for a huge number of service parts. Many, especially for newer vehicles, sell in high numbers, but there’s an extremely long “tail” of slow-moving parts. This creates significant inventory management challenges for businesses seeking to satisfy customer demand.

More specifically:

  • Every part package/container must be barcoded for easy identification.
  • Parts require storage in an appropriate environment.
  • Parts must be located/stored in a way that makes retrieval straightforward.
  • Each part must be tracked as it moves through the supply chain.

Retaining a large inventory of service parts is often a challenge for businesses focused on their manufacturing. Many find working with a partner that has warehousing and barcoding capabilities because it gives them more time to focus on their primary objectives.

Accounting for Size & Weight Variations

Automotive parts range from light bulbs, sensors, and special fasteners to windshields, transmissions, and engine blocks. Naturally, their packaging and storage requirements vary just as much. Nevertheless, these automotive parts, regardless of their size, require protection against damage from impacts and the environment. However, they must also be as easy as possible to move and store.

Understanding what packaging is appropriate requires a comprehensive analysis that takes into account:

  • The dimensions and weight of each part.
  • Where that part contains hazardous fluids.
  • If the part needs protection against crush damage.
  • How the part will be handled in storage (forklift, pallet storage, customized dunnage, etc.).
  • If the part will be exposed to moisture in storage OR during transportation.
  • If the part will be stored or transported in a non-climate-controlled environment.

Third-party packaging companies can help manufacturers and suppliers design automotive packaging that considers these factors. They can also provide advice on the feasibility of kitting parts that are used together, such as filters and seals, to help save money.

Protecting Fragile Parts

automotive packaging

While many automotive parts are made from robust materials like steel, aluminum, and plastic, others, especially some of the assemblies, are fragile, including:

  • Glass (for windows and light bulbs)
  • Interior display surfaces
  • Airbags (which contain pyrotechnic gas generators)
  • Semiconductor components
  • Electronic connectors
  • External trim pieces

The consequences of part damage are three-fold: 1) The customer will send the part back and request a replacement, which is costly for the supplier, 2) their project, build, or repair will be delayed, also resulting in increased expenses, and 3) everyone in the automotive supply chain risks damaged reputations and loss.

An advantage of partnering with third-party companies that specialize in automotive packaging is that these problems are addressed from the outset. Working with specialists ensures appropriate protection is always provided, whether that be dedicated dunnage, custom packing pieces, or electrostatic bags.

Designing Packaging for Parts With Irregular Geometries

automotive parts packaging

Few automotive parts have convenient prismatic shapes that pack readily in space-efficient ways. Most feature connectors, arms, and brackets that make packing difficult. These parts all need custom solutions that ensure protection while still being easy to handle and making the best possible use of the space available.

This is another area where it pays to work with a third-party packaging company. They help manufacturers protect all types of components cost-effectively.

Overcome These Challenges With Help From Export Corporation

People buying service parts depend on reliable fulfillment services. They expect and need parts to arrive when promised, undamaged, and in the least expensive way possible. The problem is that the automotive service parts category is very broad, with parts that pose different challenges and require very different packaging.

Export Corporation has decades of experience providing automotive packaging solutions, including packaging engineering and design, assembly and kitting, barcoding, warehousing/storage, consolidation and deconsolidation, just-in-time shipment coordinating, overseas receiving, and more.

Whether you’re dealing with large, heavy, or bulky items in small quantities or large numbers of small, delicate parts, we can provide protection, along with the traceability and regulatory compliance needed.

If you have a specific packaging/supply chain project or just want more advice, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Skid plates packaged in a custom crate

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