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Supplier partnerships encouraged in purchasing

Most companies that participated in Packaging World’s vendor consolidation survey encouraged partnership arrangements with suppliers. All respondents expect better price and service, but others seek on-site technical help, supply guarantees and materials price hedging opportunities.

Fewer vendors in manufacturers' plans

A reader survey about vendor consolidation emphasizes that most manufacturers are actively looking to decrease the number of packaging suppliers from which they buy. Pricing advantages is just one of many driving factors.

Engineers express growing dissatisfaction

In PW's latest salary survey, overall job satisfaction among engineers is dropping. Greater responsibilities with little added pay rankles, as do packaging-related budget and staff cuts.

Purchasing pros 'buy' rising salaries

Decision-making autonomy and work hours satisfy purchasing personnel, but advancement potential and income receive a thumbs-down. Meanwhile, cuts in both staff and budget increased significantly in packaging since 1997.

Outsourcing benefits point to continuing trend

The outsourcing of packaging functions has been yielding benefits, Packaging World readers report. Cost savings and satisfaction are the upside, while only half of respondents report increases in plant efficiency.

Out of 15 specific packaging functions, the list above were those most often mentioned by respondents to the survey. Most of the

Materials and container development lead outsourced functions

Development of packaging materials and containers and the graphics that go on them are the functions most often outsourced, say Packaging World readers. However, packaging machinery selection, packaging line design and integration all make the Top Ten.

Packagers still seeking help on electronic components

Understanding electronics is critical to maintenance engineers, but it's also important to packaging engineers and more important than ever to machine operators, say our readers in PW's exclusive survey. Logic and software programming are also studied.

Components assume new importance in packaging

Conveyors, coding and marking machines, and motors and drives are the components best-known to packagers who have production and engineering responsibilities.

What wins Western packagers

Western packagers reveal plans for '95-'96 in exclusive Packaging World survey. Labeling equipment and new materials top shopping list; automation and changeover time are among hottest issues.