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Good Morning all, 

I am a packaging engineer working for a medical device company in the New England area. We have certain products that are shipped as single parcels (via UPS, FedEx etc.) while some are shipped on a pallet. While doing Handling and Distribution testing for Design Verification (DV), what standard should I be using to qualify these packages? ASTM D4169 or ASTM D7386? Also, we have some products that are shipped via both modes? I know it is hard to justify a worst-case without actually knowing the packaging specs such as weight, box style, etc., is there a general industry rule where one is considered more worst-case than the other (single parcel vs palletized shipments). Also, is it acceptable practice to do testing via both test standards in parallel if one is unable to justify a worst-case ? Sorry for the lengthy post and thank you so much for your help!

Hi,

ISTA 3A is the standard to use for single parcel deliveries.

It is more rigorous than if product is shipped on a pallet.

You can purchase the protocol by visiting ISTA.org.

OL

Good Morning all, 

I am a packaging engineer working for a medical device company in the New England area. We have certain products that are shipped as single parcels (via UPS, FedEx etc.) while some are shipped on a pallet. While doing Handling and Distribution testing for Design Verification (DV), what standard should I be using to qualify these packages? ASTM D4169 or ASTM D7386? Also, we have some products that are shipped via both modes? I know it is hard to justify a worst-case without actually knowing the packaging specs such as weight, box style, etc., is there a general industry rule where one is considered more worst-case than the other (single parcel vs palletized shipments). Also, is it acceptable practice to do testing via both test standards in parallel if one is unable to justify a worst-case ? Sorry for the lengthy post and thank you so much for your help!

Hi Oksana, Thank you so much for your response. However, we only use ASTM and not ISTA for our testing. 

Hi,

ISTA 3A is the standard to use for single parcel deliveries.

It is more rigorous than if product is shipped on a pallet.

You can purchase the protocol by visiting ISTA.org.

OL

Good Morning all, 

I am a packaging engineer working for a medical device company in the New England area. We have certain products that are shipped as single parcels (via UPS, FedEx etc.) while some are shipped on a pallet. While doing Handling and Distribution testing for Design Verification (DV), what standard should I be using to qualify these packages? ASTM D4169 or ASTM D7386? Also, we have some products that are shipped via both modes? I know it is hard to justify a worst-case without actually knowing the packaging specs such as weight, box style, etc., is there a general industry rule where one is considered more worst-case than the other (single parcel vs palletized shipments). Also, is it acceptable practice to do testing via both test standards in parallel if one is unable to justify a worst-case ? Sorry for the lengthy post and thank you so much for your help!

Use ASTM D7386. Single parcel distribution is harsher from the shock standpoint. 

The challenge during unitized distribution is mainly compression on the boxes. Of course for some production vibration can be an issue too but parcel vibration tends to be harsher and the parcel testing still included the truck vibration. 

The other issue during unitized distribution is stability but ASTM D4169 is not a great way to catch those issues. You need to use the EUMOS 40509 standard for it or do a test using stability tester that can create long duration shocks events.

Feel free to reach out if you have more questions. 

Hi Oksana, Thank you so much for your response. However, we only use ASTM and not ISTA for our testing. 

Hi,

ISTA 3A is the standard to use for single parcel deliveries.

It is more rigorous than if product is shipped on a pallet.

You can purchase the protocol by visiting ISTA.org.

OL

Good Morning all, 

I am a packaging engineer working for a medical device company in the New England area. We have certain products that are shipped as single parcels (via UPS, FedEx etc.) while some are shipped on a pallet. While doing Handling and Distribution testing for Design Verification (DV), what standard should I be using to qualify these packages? ASTM D4169 or ASTM D7386? Also, we have some products that are shipped via both modes? I know it is hard to justify a worst-case without actually knowing the packaging specs such as weight, box style, etc., is there a general industry rule where one is considered more worst-case than the other (single parcel vs palletized shipments). Also, is it acceptable practice to do testing via both test standards in parallel if one is unable to justify a worst-case ? Sorry for the lengthy post and thank you so much for your help!

Good Morning all, 

I am a packaging engineer working for a medical device company in the New England area. We have certain products that are shipped as single parcels (via UPS, FedEx etc.) while some are shipped on a pallet. While doing Handling and Distribution testing for Design Verification (DV), what standard should I be using to qualify these packages? ASTM D4169 or ASTM D7386? Also, we have some products that are shipped via both modes? I know it is hard to justify a worst-case without actually knowing the packaging specs such as weight, box style, etc., is there a general industry rule where one is considered more worst-case than the other (single parcel vs palletized shipments). Also, is it acceptable practice to do testing via both test standards in parallel if one is unable to justify a worst-case ? Sorry for the lengthy post and thank you so much for your help!

Good Morning,

All modes of packaging should be tested that your product will be going through if they have not been tested yet.  When changing the packaging components that will have the most protection for your medical devices and/or it will potentially create more of a slack between all the packaging components than your currently tested packaging you use, you'll want to test and verify in all the modes that you are using, especially the single parcels.  You may have to update package protection for single parcels.  Read through the ASTM's to understand the TM and if it is testing what you need.  If you need more detailed help, this could be a quick consult or you can farm out the design and testing.  Your damage complaints, returns, refunds on faulty equipment will also give you some history on performance of the packaging to date before you make design changes.  Is your pallet broken down somewhere in Supply Chain?  Those cases if shipped separate and single should also go through the pallet and single ship testing as it sees both through its supply chain to get to the customer.  If you need a consult please reach out.

Good Morning all, 

I am a packaging engineer working for a medical device company in the New England area. We have certain products that are shipped as single parcels (via UPS, FedEx etc.) while some are shipped on a pallet. While doing Handling and Distribution testing for Design Verification (DV), what standard should I be using to qualify these packages? ASTM D4169 or ASTM D7386? Also, we have some products that are shipped via both modes? I know it is hard to justify a worst-case without actually knowing the packaging specs such as weight, box style, etc., is there a general industry rule where one is considered more worst-case than the other (single parcel vs palletized shipments). Also, is it acceptable practice to do testing via both test standards in parallel if one is unable to justify a worst-case ? Sorry for the lengthy post and thank you so much for your help!

Good Morning all, 

I am a packaging engineer working for a medical device company in the New England area. We have certain products that are shipped as single parcels (via UPS, FedEx etc.) while some are shipped on a pallet. While doing Handling and Distribution testing for Design Verification (DV), what standard should I be using to qualify these packages? ASTM D4169 or ASTM D7386? Also, we have some products that are shipped via both modes? I know it is hard to justify a worst-case without actually knowing the packaging specs such as weight, box style, etc., is there a general industry rule where one is considered more worst-case than the other (single parcel vs palletized shipments). Also, is it acceptable practice to do testing via both test standards in parallel if one is unable to justify a worst-case ? Sorry for the lengthy post and thank you so much for your help!

Single-parcel shipments is worst-case, as others have mentioned. In addition to compression issues for palletized shipments, there can be carton cosmetic damage issues such as stretch-wrap or pallet banding marks, or carton-to-carton rubbing which can damage graphics which is one reason that both modes should be evaluated. Hope this helps!

Jeff Waldeck

Good Morning all, 

I am a packaging engineer working for a medical device company in the New England area. We have certain products that are shipped as single parcels (via UPS, FedEx etc.) while some are shipped on a pallet. While doing Handling and Distribution testing for Design Verification (DV), what standard should I be using to qualify these packages? ASTM D4169 or ASTM D7386? Also, we have some products that are shipped via both modes? I know it is hard to justify a worst-case without actually knowing the packaging specs such as weight, box style, etc., is there a general industry rule where one is considered more worst-case than the other (single parcel vs palletized shipments). Also, is it acceptable practice to do testing via both test standards in parallel if one is unable to justify a worst-case ? Sorry for the lengthy post and thank you so much for your help!