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Apprenticeship training course

Packaging professional (integrated degree) (level 6)

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Information about Packaging professional (integrated degree) (level 6)

Leading on technical packaging delivery programmes and projects for a multitude of products.

Knowledge, skills and behaviours
View knowledge, skills and behaviours

Knowledge

  • 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.

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.

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.
Apprenticeship category (sector)
Engineering and manufacturing
Qualification level
6
Equal to degree
Course duration
48 months
Maximum funding
£24,000
Maximum government funding for
apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
Job titles include
  • Packaging Operations Manager
  • Packaging Development Manager
  • Packaging Project Manager
  • Packaging Innovation Technologist
  • Senior Packaging Technologist
  • Packaging Specialist
  • Packaging professional

View more information about Packaging professional (integrated degree) (level 6) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.