22 June 2021

TOURNAIRE ENSURES THE LOGISTICS PERFORMANCE OF YOUR PRIMARY PACKAGING

The packaging, no matter how good it is, if it does not arrive on time and in good condition, can threaten the entire manufacturing value chain. In the current circumstances – see article on packaging in times of crisis – special attention must be paid to the supply chains of packaging suppliers. Tournaire, as a supplier of primary packaging, has always adapted its internal and external supply chains to the specific needs of its customers.

PACKAGING LOGISTICS? A SPECIFIC AND MAJOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ACTIVITY

Sometimes fragile (glass), often bulky (hollow objects), primary packaging requires special attention for transportation. It generates major flows that are sensitive to the severe mechanical stress caused in particular during multimodal transport. Choosing the right external logistics partners and putting in place the right internal organisation to meet the customer’s expectations are the key success factors for a faultless service. The medium-term visibility for customers is often hit and miss and their needs are constantly changing: optimisation of their flows, storage costs and inventory management, lack of space at the production sites, especially for empty packaging, optimisation of inventory costs, lean or just-in-time organisations, protection of the packaging itself, etc.

 

HOW TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO CHANGES IN LOGISTICS REQUIREMENTS?

The organisation of the distribution network is a key factor in a successful global supply chain. The ideal service level is often linked to the proximity of a close, dedicated partner, who can respond within a few hours or days to urgent or unforeseen needs. Furthermore, the possibility of reserving load capacity in case of a shortage of available transport has become an undeniable advantage for an optimal level of service. This has recently been underscored by the shortages of containers due to the Covid-19 crisis, Brexit and the incident in the Suez Canal. The effective coverage of the markets by this sort of partner is a major driver of success. This is especially true for medium-sized volumes and average frequency orders for standardised articles. This responsiveness comes at a price, justified by the service provided and the savings made on storage and management.

For larger or more personalised flows, a direct link with the producer of the packaging is often the best answer. In this case, the entire service depends on the packaging supplier and particularly on its knowledge of the manufacturer’s or packer’s logistics needs and its organisation’s ability to anticipate and manage the requirements.

 

THE CRITERIA OF EXCELLENCE OF SUPPLY CHAIN ORGANISATION

The organisation of logistics is intimately linked to, or sometimes even integrated into the industrial organisation and one cannot be effective without the other. The commercial structure, upstream and downstream, is also a vital part of the chain. It helps to anticipate customer needs and therefore organise industrial and logistical flows. The quality and the integration of commercial, industrial and logistics management software also constitutes an essential platform for successful interaction between different entities. If the customer is listened to and the right amount of creativity and responsiveness is applied, then high-performance and varied tools and services can be provided. These supply chain tools can take many forms: dynamic inventory management, retail store, consignment stocks, just-in-time flows, truck deliveries at set times, delivery slots included in the customer’s schedule, fixed buffer stocks available on demand and many other tools. The stronger the coordination between the two partners, the greater the benefits provided by all these solutions. This is achieved thanks to a clear and detailed set of specifications combined with the agile and effective organisation of the packaging supplier.

 

TOURNAIRE IS AT YOUR SERVICE TO PROVIDE A MADE-TO-MEASURE LOGISTICS SERVICE

With nearly 200 years of experience serving a wide range of sectors, including 70% for export, Tournaire brings you logistics services to meet your needs thanks to:

• its global distribution network with over 35 partners near your factory
• its industrial and logistics firepower
• its attentive sales force
• the careful selection of its hauliers and transit agents.

A long history connects Tournaire to the perfume, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. These industries have different practices and seasonalities. This has enabled Tournaire to implement original logistics solutions over time, such as a retail store for local customers, but also dynamic stock management for standard products. These tools are available to customers to enable almost immediate deliveries of major standard articles. This involves moving thousands of pallets every year and more or less ‘lean’ management. With several hundred standard packaged articles, it is a constant challenge. The rapid availability of the standard Tournaire range is a guarantee of success for its sales network, and even more so for its customers whose seasonality and urgency of needs are not always predictable.

For customers with specific articles or who have greater volumes, consignment stocks can be arranged. Tournaire also proposes, where relevant, a nearby buffer stock. The Fragnes site is specialised in the production of multi-layer expanded packaging. This major entity within the Tournaire Group has developed close relationships with its main customers who can benefit from just-in-time deliveries (48 hours), or even the inclusion of set delivery times in a dedicated logistics interface.

All of these services have only been made possible by a clear understanding of the customers’ needs and the logistics service providers’ ability to rapidly respond to them. These best practices result in effective services, all the more so given that they require the partners to comply with a demanding set of requirements over the long-term, guaranteeing the protection of the primary packaging. The Tournaire quality system is ISO 9001 certified: making it possible to control and adapt the performance of every link in the logistics chain.

Another major link in the effectiveness of the logistics chain is provided by the ERP management system. For example, at Tournaire every article sold is identified by a barcode. The code, linked to its place in the stock – also managed by a barcode – not only makes it possible to ensure First In – First Out (FIFO) stock management, but also to optimise storage capacity and speed of loading and helps to monitor the traceability of the products.

These few examples of tailored logistics organisations show just how much Tournaire takes the satisfaction of its customers seriously, as much for the performance of the packaging delivered, as for the quality of service provided. Do not hesitate to contact your usual sales representative so that we can build a solution to meet your packaging logistics needs together.