Packaging Professional

Section 2: Knowledge, skills and behaviours

Packaging Professionals demonstrate the following skills:

• Translate customer briefs to determine a technical packaging brief, which considers business, consumer, operational and sustainability requirements.
• Identify, design, develop and source packaging solutions demonstrating best value, environmental impact and fitness for purpose to meet briefs.
• Critically analyse and apply packaging design options against complex inter-related touchpoints to meet the needs from design to end of life, e.g. environmental impact using life cycle assessment.
• Liaise and coordinate with other stakeholders (e.g. supplier, R&D, marketing, finance, technical) to deliver packaging development projects. When appropriate take the lead and drive the project.
• Initiate and lead projects, using project management tools and skills to deliver projects to time, cost, specification and quality.
• Identify and control project risks through mitigation plans.
• Define parameters, design of experiments, success criteria and protocols for projects appropriate to the brief.
• Lead the design and management of packaging trials (e.g. prototypes, production of samples, transit, shelf life, sensory, machine-ability).
• Document and evaluate trials at different project stages (e.g. laboratory, pilot plant, supplier, filling and packing, transit and distribution) recommending further activities.
• Report results and conclusions. Hypothesise and recommend further adaptions and optimisations.
• Ensure compliance with packaging and market regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrate financial acumen, e.g. managing budget(s); interpreting financial data and evaluating total product costs and their impact throughout the value chain.
• Investigate and interpret non-conformance issues related to Packaging. Resolve using root cause analysis and apply change management.
• Effectively communicate with stakeholders at different levels, building positive working relationships; influencing and persuading key stakeholders effectively.
• Translate business strategy into internal and external capability building programmes (e.g. supplier quality improvement programmes).
• Demonstrate critical thinking, analytical and statistical skills to evaluate and interpret complex information and data (e.g. process capability).
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve packaging based on an analysis of costs, continuous improvement, environmental impact, waste avoidance and process improvements.
• Provide comprehensive technical services to internal colleagues, customers and suppliers.
• Coach and/or mentor.
• Use visual and digital tools systems, e.g. project management, computer aided engineering, business management systems, palletisation software.

Packaging Professionals have knowledge and understanding of:

• Functions of packaging: inform the consumer, contain, protect, promote & preserve the product.
• Requirements of packaging: environmental consideration, economical appropriateness and use-ability.
• The impact and measures of packaging on the environment and strategies to reduce its impact e.g. reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, energy and water consumption and carbon emissions.
• Materials science: properties, testing, applications and interaction with the product; hygiene, odour, migration, corrosion and their impact on product shelf life.
• Requirements to manage the storage, transportation and conditions required for packaging and finished goods.
• The different types of finished pack testing, including functionality and consumer.
• Machinery technologies: different types of filling and packaging performance; collate, form, fill, seal.
• Conversion technologies: the process of raw material to end packaging.
• The interactions between machine, process, materials and product e.g. coefficient of friction, static.
• Line design and the concept of production efficiency.
• The principles of budgetary control, cost analysis e.g. costs of goods, total delivered costs.
• Customer and consumer requirements throughout the package’s lifecycle.
• Principles of marketing as it relates to packaging (4 P’s: place, price, product and promotion).
• Legislation and standards relating to packaging, e.g. Packaging Essential Requirements, dangerous goods, packaging waste, good manufacturing practice, labelling.
• Value chain analysis and the principles of continuous improvement techniques, e.g. DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve and Control), 5S.
• Standard packaging formats covering primary, secondary and tertiary, including ancillaries.
• The role of quality assurance and control in packaging; the types of quality checks undertaken throughout the lifecycle.
• Packaging documentation, including how to write/create and interpret a brief, specification, technical drawing and report.
• Printing and decorative technologies and their applications e.g. flexo, litho, gravure and digital.
• Artwork, graphics in packaging, including artwork creation and reprographics, how to test colour and finishes.
• The principles of packaging design, including structural, functional and inclusive design.
• The packaging innovation and development workflow and process including design, prototyping, approvals, translations, timescales, certifications and involvement of stakeholders.
• Supplier management, including contractual agreements, procurement, standards for approving suppliers (ethical, quality accreditation, audit), methods of ensuring operational compliance (Key Performance Indicators, scorecards).
• The principles of project management, including critical paths, Gantt charts.
• Innovation in packaging, including intellectual property, open innovation, scout and horizon scanning, trends and insights, desk research; academic and funding sources to explore new opportunities.
• Design for sustainability including the circular economy, life cycle assessment, the range of influences (customer strategies, Government and Non-Governmental Organisations) and practical approaches including source reduction optimisation and eco design guidelines.
• The principles of team management e.g. coaching, mentoring, appraisals.
• Packaging specific software tools e.g. pallet optimisation software, computer aided design.

Packaging Professionals demonstrate the following behaviours:

• Safety first attitude: ensures safety of self and others, good manufacturing practices, challenges safety issues, leads by example.
• Inspires others. Acts as an ambassador for the packaging profession.
• Can do attitude. Tenacious, yet pragmatic. Strives for excellence. Self-motivated: drive and energy to lead and influence.
• Demonstrates an entrepreneurial and resilient mind-set. Ownership of work & results oriented: accepts responsibility, is proactive, time management, prioritises, provides solutions.
• Pride in work: aims for excellence, attention to detail, displays enthusiasm.
• Self-development: proposes objectives to support the business, seeks learning, drives the development of self and others.
• Integrity and respect: respect for colleagues and stakeholders, adapts style where appropriate.
• Working in a team: builds good relationships with others, works collaboratively, contributes ideas, challenges appropriately and leads by example.
• Flexible to changing working environment and demands as well as handling ambiguity.
• Acts in alignment with the business vision and values.
• Innovation: demonstrates curiosity to foster new ways of thinking and working, taking account of the big picture.
• Championing an environmental and sustainability mindset: always considers the impact of their decision making on the environment.

Entry requirements:

Employers will set their own criteria, typically a minimum of Level 2 in English and maths

English & maths:

Apprentices without level 2 English and Mathematics will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end-point assessment for this apprenticeship.  For those with an education, health and care plan or legacy statement, the apprenticeships English and Mathematics minimum requirement is Entry Level 3.  A British Sign Language qualification is an alternative to English qualifications for those whom this is their primary language.

Level:

6

Duration:

Typically 4 years

Qualification:

BSC Degree in Packaging Technology

Professional recognition:   

Achievement of the apprenticeship standard will lead to recognition as an Accredited Packaging Professional by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining

Standard review:

After 3 years

Originally published on Gov.uk, this information has been re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence.