new competencies and
innovations in logistics

The goal of this course is to make students understand the packaging system and the relationship between the packages used for the product. Packaging is a very important part of the supply chain, because of its influence on many different logistics aspects, e.g. physical handling, marketing, flow of information, capacity in the transport system. All these elements are relevant when the packaging is designed. Therefore the analyses before the design and the design of the packaging itself are very important elements of the logistics chain. This course focuses on those elements of the influence of packaging on the total logistics supply chain system.

The objective of this course is mutually agreed upon during the first course occasion. In general the following elements can be mentioned in this context:

Knowledge

The student shall, after having completed the course:

• Have an overall view and understanding of packaging systems and their role in society.
• Have an understanding of a package development process including the knowledge of packaging design, packaging properties and different packaging material.
• Have knowledge about EU requirements and other regulations that effect the packaging selection process.
• Have an understanding of the environmental aspects regarding packaging.
• Have an understanding of the role of packaging in marketing and information.

Skills

The aim of this course is to provide an understanding of the basics of packaging technology and involves important industrial applications in order for students to consider and evaluate them in relation to packaging systems. The students should be able to combine the different aspects around packaging issues in order to analyse and select package type and package material based on cost, product, logistics, marketing and environmental aspects.

Attitudinal

Another aim of the course is to improve the ability to work independently and to learn to make a critical analysis during project work and during the exam. Students are also expected to show the ability to draw specific or general conclusions in their own work. After the course the student should have affinity with basic packaging technology and being able to apply gained knowledge in future courses and packaging applications.

Communication, e-learning

The study programme is in close connection with the e-learning platform LUVIT. LUVIT is used as a communication forum, in which students and teachers can communicate, both using chat rooms but also making different forums in which questions can be brought up. LUVIT is also used as a forum for all data related to the programme, e.g. reports, presentations, literature etc.

Communication in a normal training programme is between the teacher and all the participants and among the participants in the lessons. After the lessons the communication will be a one-to-one communication between the participant and the teacher. The E-learning platform LUVIT enables the participants and the teachers to make debating places. This platform - which is well used - shows responses from different participants to concrete problems. This network adds extra benefit to the project because each project has the possibility to use experience, networks and knowledge from other project groups.

The study programme is not fully developed as an E-learning programme. The programme will become a fully integrated e-learning programme. The most important benefit of the e-learning programme is time independence, which makes it possible to run several programmes. The experiences from other programmes show, that the participants will have a wider focus, but also need another form of background material than used in traditional training programmes.

The effectiveness of the logistics system is a combination of several elements, and the packaging has influence on most of these. The influence is related both to physical handling, flow of information and marketing elements. Therefore the design of the packaging is a very important element, if the logistics system is to be optimised. The training programme focuses on all the relevant elements, which makes the participants able to make better decisions on the design of the packaging. Through the lessons and the project the participant analyses different packaging options and describes the different functions of the actual packaging. Through the different analyses the participants are able to make better decisions on which new packaging options will be optimal for use in the logistics system.

The most difficult part for the students is to start early and find their own case. The case is a central part of the programme, and therefore it is impossible to pass the examination without a case. The cases are real cases either from existing packaging or from planned new packaging. The analyses made do not have to correspond to new packaging systems, because the analysis of an existing packaging system can show in which areas it is possible to optimise or change the packaging and through the changes optimise the logistics system.

For most students it is at first an obstacle to produce reports and do presentations in English.

The use of the e-learning platform as an integrated instruction tool can also cause problems. The first step is to use the e-learning tool as a supplement to normal communication. The use of e-learning tools needs another focus, because chat-rooms and discussion forums open new possibilities to include knowledge from all the participants. The first step in introducing these possibilities is to use the e-learning platform to give all relevant information.

Use of the e-learning tools as primary teaching will demand other types of teaching materials. The used materials need to be more detailed to make sure all participants understand the message. Normally face-to-face teaching gives the possibility to ask questions and the teacher can clarify selected subjects. This possibility is not available in the e-learning concept. Therefore there is a need for more detailed material. Experiences from other training programmes, where the e-learning system LUVIT is used, tells that there is a need for face-to-face meetings to optimise the benefit of the training. There should be at least one face-to-face meeting when the programme begins and one when it ends. Those meetings will make it easier for the participants to communicate because they have met each other.

The students will get a much better understanding of the problems concerning the packaging selection process. The detailed analyses of a packaging system give a good understanding of the packaging position in the logistics flow. The understanding of the physical influence of packaging on the logistics system makes participants able to design and optimise the logistics flow in which packaging is an important element.

Students will see several different applications because they have to read and listen to other projects as well. This process gives the students a more profound knowledge of other cases, and therefore it is possible to transfer key results from these reports to the general knowledge, because they have taken part in the discussion related to these cases.

The students will have been using e-learning tools, and will therefore also be familiar with the terminology of the discussion forums, and other web-based tools of sharing information.

Students understand that packaging is an interdisciplinary subject that requires teams of people with knowledge in several areas. The packaging focus will also cause increased interest in the physical design of the logistics flow. Through the focus on the physical layout, it will become easier to optimise the logistics effectiveness.

E-learning tools. The use of e-learning tools can add extra benefits to the traditional teaching methods, because it enables the participants to take part in discussions with each other, and because the tool makes it possible to ask questions both to the teacher and to the participants at the same time. The tool will integrate the knowledge from all the participants in the programme in contrast with the traditional programmes in which knowledge is mainly obtainable from teachers.

Further information:
E-learning platform: www.luvit.com
Study programme: www.plog.lth.se