All Member Forum

Good day everyone!

I'm new to the packaging game. I graduated with a B.S in Industrial Engineering and was hired in a company that didn't have a packaging team in the U.S. I was hired in an attempt to start building a packaging presence apart from the parent company overseas, so there's not a lot of knowledge/support about packaging. The company I work for is pretty great, and ideally I'd like to progress up the Packaging ladder. I'm slowly working my way through some of the IoPP trainings and doing a lot of Googling to improve our packaging. Any suggestions for increasing my knowledge or what sort of "checklist" things I'd need to have mastered to move up would be appreciated. 

Thank you,

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Allison Short
Assoc. Packaging Engineer
Viega LLC
McPherson KS
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I find myself referencing the book "Packaging Notes From the Design Desk" quite often. The author is Brian Johnston. The Packaging School also has some well-put-together online classes.

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Tim Kretlow CPP
Packaging Engineer
Hunter Engineering
Bridgeton MO
(314) 716-0275
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Hi Allison,  
With those two books you will get a very broad understanding 

Fundamental of packaging Technology 
The Wiley Encyclopedia of Packaging 

For specific, get trainings from your suppliers ! 


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Emilie Peltre
Abbott
BARTENHEIM
+41613236994
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Allison,

I came into the game in a very similar situation. I came on as a Pack Engineer with a ChemE degree for a company with a small amount of packaging knowledge base. What I found worked for me was a combination of the approaches mentioned above:

• The Packaging School is a fantastic resource for online classes - you will come out with a foundational knowledge and you can learn at your own pace (within a year)
  • IoPP's education program I have heard is also a good foundational course, which is really the goal
  • Don't discount the packaging that you do not use - that information tends to be useful regardless
• Utilize your suppliers! If you ask, they are almost always willing to walk you through the plant, show you how they do things, and generally teach you how it works. But before you do, do your research on their production methods. If it is a papermaking facility, look into production methods and general terminology before you go, so that you are speaking the same language and have a basic knowledge to walk in with. This will be worth it! Also, if they will let you get on their equipment for a bit, take the opportunity!
• Get out onto your equipment as much as possible early-on. It is hard to do design and make specifications if you don't know what you are working with. Also, this will help ensure that the floor team respects you and sees you as a peer instead of 'an office person' or a general headache when you need to get line time for testing, or do anything that affects them in any way. I have a good relationship with my operators and we work together very well to make things happen since I did this.
• Find a mentor - outside of your company if need be! Packaging professionals are almost always willing to show you the ropes, offer advise, and answer questions. This was extremely helpful for me.

I understand your position and struggle, and I hope that any of the above is helpful!

Best

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Aaron Stauble CPP
Senior Packaging Engineer
KOST USA
Cincinnati OH
(513) 869-9428
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Allison,
You are already seeing the benefit of PackChat by the responses you've received so far! I've listed a number of other resources you can take advantage of below.

IoPP Bookstore - The Fundamentals of Packaging Technology is our best seller. You will also find other books, including Packaging Notes, which someone mentioned earlier.
Education - IoPP offers both online and classroom instruction opportunities.
Mentor Match -  Sign up as a Mentee and search the library of Mentors to find a match.​​

If you have any further questions, let me know.

Thank you,

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Sarah Washburn
General Manager
Institute of Packaging Professionals
Herndon VA
(571) 266-4403
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