Consultative Packaging Solutions

Consultative Packaging Solutions

Start With the Packaging Challenge, Then Build the Right Solution

Empire EMCO helps manufacturers evaluate rigid packaging challenges across design, engineering, sourcing, cost, supply risk, inventory, warehousing, and implementation to identify practical packaging solutions built around the application.

Rigid Packaging Consulting

The Right Packaging Solution Is Usually More Than a Product Selection

Choosing a bottle, jar, closure, or rigid container is only one part of a packaging decision.

The package also has to work with the product, filling process, closure system, manufacturing environment, shipping conditions, inventory requirements, budget, and supply chain.

Empire EMCO approaches packaging as a complete system. We help manufacturers define the problem, evaluate the variables, identify appropriate packaging options, and develop a supply strategy around the final solution.

Packaging Consulting Capabilities

What Packaging Challenges Can Empire EMCO Help Solve?

Consultative packaging support brings multiple packaging disciplines together so decisions are based on the entire program rather than one individual component.

1

Packaging Selection

Identify bottles, jars, containers, closures, materials, and packaging formats based on product and application requirements.

2

Packaging Engineering

Evaluate package design, closure systems, materials, seal integrity, structural performance, tooling, and package failures.

3

Packaging Cost Reduction

Review materials, lightweighting, tooling, freight, sourcing, inventory, and total landed cost opportunities.

4

Global Packaging Sourcing

Identify domestic and international manufacturing sources based on capability, quality, cost, tooling, lead time, and logistics.

5

Supply Chain Risk Reduction

Develop alternate sources, dual sourcing, inventory buffers, supplier diversification, and continuity strategies.

6

Inventory & Warehousing

Support packaging availability through forecasting, safety stock, warehousing, scheduled releases, and inventory programs.

7

Tooling Strategy

Evaluate custom molds, stock molds, family molds, tooling ownership, manufacturability, and supplier flexibility.

8

Supplier Evaluation

Compare packaging suppliers using quality, capability, consistency, economics, production capacity, and long-term fit.

9

Implementation & Supply

Help transition the selected packaging solution into production and support ongoing sourcing, inventory, and replenishment needs.

Start With the Problem

You Do Not Need to Know the Packaging Solution Before You Call

Many packaging projects begin with a problem rather than a specification. That is exactly where a consultative approach can be most valuable.

We need a package for a new product. Start with product, fill, dispensing, material, volume, market, production, and supply requirements before selecting components.
Our existing package is not performing correctly. Evaluate bottle design, closure, material, product compatibility, tooling, filling, storage, and distribution conditions.
Our packaging costs are too high. Review total packaging cost across material, design, tooling, freight, sourcing, inventory, and supply.
We cannot find the right packaging supplier. Identify domestic or global sources based on the manufacturing capabilities and economics required by the program.
We are worried about running out of packaging. Evaluate alternate suppliers, inventory levels, lead times, safety stock, warehousing, and supply continuity.
We are not sure whether to use stock or custom packaging. Compare tooling investment, package requirements, volumes, speed to market, cost, and long-term program needs.
Think Beyond the Container

Packaging Decisions Are Connected to the Entire Manufacturing Program

A packaging change can affect far more than the appearance of the container. It can influence filling, sealing, labeling, palletization, freight, inventory, quality, cost, and supply continuity.

A consultative review may consider:
Product requirements
Bottle or container design
Closure system
Material selection
Product compatibility
Filling conditions
Labeling requirements
Tooling
Supplier capability
Freight
Inventory
Supply continuity
Empire EMCO's Approach

From Packaging Challenge to Ongoing Supply

Our consultative approach starts by understanding what the package must accomplish and continues through evaluation, engineering, sourcing, implementation, and ongoing supply.

1 Define the Challenge
2 Evaluate Requirements
3 Develop Options
4 Engineer & Source
5 Implement the Solution
6 Support Ongoing Supply
Consultative Packaging Support

Packaging Consulting Can Start at Any Stage of the Program

Some manufacturers need help selecting a package. Others already have packaging and need help improving performance, cost, or supply.

New Packaging Development

Evaluate packaging options for a new product based on function, material, appearance, filling requirements, sourcing, cost, tooling, and supply.

Existing Package Improvement

Troubleshoot performance problems or identify opportunities involving materials, closures, design, tooling, weight, manufacturing, or cost.

Supply Program Optimization

Improve sourcing, inventory, supplier diversification, warehousing, lead times, and other factors that affect ongoing packaging availability.

Stock vs. Custom Packaging

Not Every Packaging Challenge Requires a Custom Package

Custom packaging can provide significant benefits, but it also introduces tooling, development time, minimum volumes, and supplier dependence.

In many cases, the best solution may involve an existing stock bottle, jar, closure, mold, or modified package rather than designing everything from the ground up.

A consultative review helps compare both options based on function, economics, brand requirements, speed to market, tooling, manufacturability, and long-term supply.

Explore Packaging Engineering Support →
Cross-Functional Packaging Decisions

Packaging Decisions Affect More Than the Purchasing Department

A good packaging solution needs to work for the people responsible for cost, quality, production, engineering, supply, and the end product.

Packaging Engineering

Evaluate design, materials, closures, tooling, performance, testing, and technical requirements.

Procurement & Purchasing

Evaluate supplier options, cost, tooling, minimum quantities, contracts, and total landed economics.

Operations & Supply Chain

Consider production schedules, lead time, warehousing, inventory, supplier capacity, and continuity.

Quality

Review specifications, tolerances, package integrity, product compatibility, consistency, and supplier quality.

Product Development

Align package functionality, appearance, materials, dispensing, compatibility, and speed to market.

Management

Balance cost, capital investment, risk, growth, product requirements, and long-term packaging strategy.

Beyond Packaging Advice

A Packaging Solution Has to Move From Recommendation to Production

Consulting has limited value if the recommended package cannot be sourced, manufactured, delivered, or supported consistently.

Empire EMCO combines packaging consulting with engineering, supplier sourcing, warehousing, inventory management, and distribution.

That means the conversation can continue from the initial packaging challenge through development, sourcing, implementation, and ongoing supply.

Packaging Consulting FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Rigid Packaging Consulting

What does a rigid packaging consultant do?
A rigid packaging consultant helps manufacturers evaluate packaging requirements and identify appropriate bottles, jars, containers, closures, materials, tooling, suppliers, inventory strategies, and other packaging solutions. Consulting can also include troubleshooting existing packaging problems and reducing packaging cost or risk.
When should a manufacturer use a packaging consultant?
Packaging consulting may be useful when developing a new product, troubleshooting a package failure, reducing packaging costs, changing suppliers, developing custom packaging, improving supply continuity, or when the best packaging solution is not yet clear.
Can Empire EMCO help us choose the right bottle or closure?
Yes. Empire EMCO can help evaluate rigid packaging components based on product requirements, materials, filling conditions, closure compatibility, dispensing, performance, cost, sourcing, and supply considerations.
Does packaging consulting always mean creating a custom package?
No. A stock bottle, jar, closure, or existing mold may be the most practical solution when it meets the application requirements. Custom packaging may be appropriate when existing options cannot provide the required performance, differentiation, economics, or functionality.
Can Empire EMCO help troubleshoot an existing packaging problem?
Yes. Empire EMCO can help evaluate problems involving containers, closures, materials, leaks, paneling, stress cracking, seal integrity, tooling, suppliers, costs, and other rigid packaging challenges.
Can Empire EMCO help source the packaging after recommending a solution?
Yes. Empire EMCO supports rigid packaging sourcing, engineering, global and domestic supplier options, warehousing, inventory programs, and ongoing distribution in addition to consultative packaging support.
Explore the Packaging Solution

Go Deeper Into Each Area of Packaging Support

Consultative packaging solutions connect the six core areas of Empire EMCO's rigid packaging support.

Not Sure What Packaging Solution You Need?

Start with the challenge. Empire EMCO can help evaluate your rigid packaging requirements and identify options involving components, materials, engineering, cost, sourcing, tooling, inventory, warehousing, and ongoing supply.