The project management triangle of ‘cost, time and quality’ illustrates that we have to make choices. The clear visual helps us understand that we can’t have it all at the same level when it comes to reaching the results that we want; we either pay more, expect it to take longer, or accept lower quality. We can also accept that the one part of the triangle where we must compromise will be different depending on the topic at hand.
For food safe plastic packaging, the compromise in the triangle of ‘cost, time and quality’ varies depending on the market, the product and the territory, so the decisions needed to be taken change too. For many brand owners, the need to look at their particular triangle and identify the issue where they must compromise differs depending on the market and the product.
To make this balance easier, brands need to work with plastic packaging producers that can advise as well as create suitable solutions. Multinational plastic packaging producer RETAL has identified how to serve multinational customers in a local way, by combining the strengths of its European operations with the advantages of a US facility. By replicating the project management triangle to ensure a balance of cost, time and quality is delivered at every step of every project, RETAL is reducing the need for compromise.
Opening an approx. 150,000 sq ft facility in Donora, PA in 2016, now 100% powered by renewable energy, RETAL brought its up to 100% rPET preforms design and HDPE closures understanding to the US, joining its 12 production sites across Europe. Already working with many of the world’s most recognized household names in the food and beverage industries throughout its active markets, including France, Italy, Spain, Ukraine and Lithuania, the RETAL focus has long been on achieving each point of that triangle, creating a balance rather than a tradeoff.
Regional Director Olexiy Shapovalov explains, “Each of our European facilities has grown in its own way, according to the needs of the local markets. So, we have local sales, quality and production teams, our R&D team takes the time to understand the specific demands of each market, and we’re very careful to stay ahead of the evolving legislation both from the EU and for each country. We invest in modern equipment too; it all comes together to make our plastic packaging technologically advanced, cost effective and creatively appealing. Our US facility has the best of our European experience combined with its own unique approach, tailored to local needs, served by 11 production lines. We don’t want our customers to have to choose between what is important to them and what packaging is available. Working with RETAL means they don’t have to compromise.”
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