Paige Packaging’s packaging inventory management program is a vendor managed inventory (VMI) model designed specifically for corrugated. Our team visits your facility on a regular schedule, counts the packaging you have on hand, and recommends what needs to be replenished. Production is then scheduled so that new stock arrives ahead of the demand.
Our Elmwood Park, NJ team provides corrugated packaging products and services to regional brands across a range of industries. Through our partnerships with Freedom Corrugated and International Paper, we control both board supply and converting, so your inventory plan and our production schedule never operate in isolation.
Get in touch with our team today for a packaging inventory management assessment.
The Operational Cost of Unmanaged Packaging Inventory
Corrugated purchasing is reactive rather than proactive in many facilities. A buyer notices inventory is low, submits a purchase order and waits through the lead time. This approach works only until demand surges or lead times increase.
Overcorrecting creates a different problem. Excess inventory increases carrying costs, takes up warehouse space, and raises the risk of obsolescence when artwork or box specifications change.
SKU proliferation intensifies both risks. Every new carton size adds another reorder point, making manual tracking increasingly difficult to scale. The result is a supply chain that depends on individual vigilance rather than a clear, disciplined process.
What Are the Benefits of Packaging Inventory Management?
A vendor managed inventory (VMI) program redefines the core variables of packaging supply. Here are the most significant benefits:
Reduced Risk of Downstream Issues
A packing line that stops because containers are unavailable incurs labor costs without producing output. A reliable supply of properly sized boxes reduces that risk, even when lead times fluctuate.
Reclaimed Warehouse Capacity
Corrugated packaging is bulky relative to its value. Routine on-site counts allow us to recommend stock levels that match your actual consumption. This means you aren’t typing up floor space with excess cartons or running short of the sizes you use most.
Consistent Specifications Run to Run
Rush orders leave less time for setup and inspection, while planned production allows each run to follow the same specifications. This consistency helps case erectors and other packaging equipment maintain reliable board performance.
Single-Source Accountability
At Paige Packaging, our design and custom manufacturing teams operate under the same roof as our packaging inventory management team. That means specification changes move directly into the replenishment plan, with no coordination required across multiple vendors.
Start Your Vendor Managed Inventory Program Today
Reach out to Paige Packaging today to learn more about our packaging inventory management services. We’ll visit your facility for an assessment of your current consumption and on-hand inventory. With that data, our team can then recommend stock levels and a release structure suited to your operation.
FAQs About Packaging Inventory Management
How does VMI compare to a blanket purchase order?
With our packaging inventory management solutions, our team assesses what you have on hand and can advise on replenishment quantities, so your team does not have to calculate releases and track usage.
How are reorder points and safety stock determined?
Both are calculated for each SKU. Reorder points account for consumption rate and replenishment lead time, while safety stock reflects demand variability. We update these figures as more usage data becomes available.
How does packaging inventory management lower total cost?
Unit price reflects only part of packaging’s total cost. Carrying inventory and expediting orders also add expense, and a managed program directly reduces these often-overlooked costs.