4 Ways Bulk Bag Suppliers Can Make a Purchasing Manager's Job Easier

Purchasing managers are all too familiar with the balancing act of quality and cost. It can be challenging to find packaging that gets the job done well while also achieving cost savings.

In industries that ship and handle dry bulk products, purchasing managers are especially attuned to any type of packaging that will help the company save money without sacrificing quality. In the search for the best packaging solution, it turns out that bulk bags are a purchasing manager’s dream—but to make the most of their potential benefits, you have to find the right partner. 

Getting to Know Bulk Bags

Flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC) bulk bags are ideal for storing pretty much any dry, flowable product you can think of. The bags are made of virgin polypropylene resins, and you can customize them to your specific business needs. You can decide between a variety of bag styles, loop designs, and top and bottom design options so the bags are perfectly suited to your processes. 

FIBC bulk bags are a good fit for the aggregate, agriculture, chemical, construction, food, fertilizer, rubber, aquaculture, pet food products, and pharmaceutical industries. For purchasing managers in these industries, bulk bags are a flexible, lightweight, and customizable alternative to Gaylord boxes and large storage/cargo containers.

Dreams Really Do Come True with These 4 Bulk Bag Benefits

Let’s take a look at some of the ways that bulk bags make life easier on purchasing managers:

1. Cost savings

In any business, in every industry, purchasing managers need to demonstrate cost savings. Bulk bags are a great way to tick this box, for a few reasons:

• Lower carrying costs: Weighing 3-9 ounces, FIBC bulk bags are extremely lightweight, so they minimize your fuel expenses and overall shipping costs. In fact, bulk bags have the lowest package-to-product weight ratio of any intermediate bulk container on the market.

• Greater efficiency: Bulk bags help you efficiently ship and store dry materials in a couple of ways. Because they are lighter and smaller than other shipping options, employees can more quickly load and unload them. They also work well with high-speed filling applications, which eliminates time-consuming manual processes, and they can be customized to fit seamlessly into your workflow.

• Less packaging overall: If you use large storage or cargo containers to ship products, you probably have to also invest in smaller packaging containers to ship and store your dry materials throughout the supply chain. Bulk bags are the right size for dry bulk materials, without requiring additional packaging.

2. Quality control

Bulk bags also help ensure the highest-quality finished product. The strong polypropylene material is puncture- and tear-resistant, which protects the contents from damage. 

Bulk bags are definitely one of those purchases in which you get what you pay for. Opting for cheap or discounted bags can endanger your bottom line in the long run. That’s because sometimes bags aren’t made with strong or reliable materials. After showing customers high-quality samples, some suppliers provide bags of an inconsistent quality or reduce the quality of the materials or construction in the production stage. 

When your packaging materials break or malfunction, the company stands to lose money because of damaged products or shipping delays. And no purchasing manager wants to experience that nightmare.

3. Inventory control 

With the right packaging partner, bulk bags can support vendor managed inventory (VMI) programs. Working with a reliable bulk bag supplier, a VMI program would allow for just-in-time delivery. You wouldn’t have to worry about carrying costs or lead times, because your supplier would be managing your inventory.

Another perk of bulk bags: They support lean practices because they enable greater efficiency and can be customized to suit the space requirements of your specific products.

4. Prevention of downtime 

A strong bulk bag partner can help you improve your supply chain management, and ensure on-time delivery, by preventing downtime due to a lack of materials. Again, reliability is key here, so be sure to find a packaging partner that’s going to meet your needs.

Finding a Packaging Partner

Right now, the market for FIBC bulk bags is fragmented, with suppliers of all sizes vying for your business. To protect your company’s investment and reputation, find an FIBC supplier that will act as a true partner. Make sure the company has knowledgeable field sales reps and a technical in-house staff who can provide you with the information and support you need from start to finish. 

Conitex Sonoco works closely with purchasing managers to deliver high-quality packaging solutions that meet their needs. We foster a relationship with each customer so we can ensure their purchasing experience is seamless. 

We have a whole team of technical experts on staff providing on-site surveys to improve your production efficiencies and helping you optimize your FIBC bulk bags for your application. Our dedication to quality and our reliable service ensure that your supply chain runs smoothly and efficiently. 

For purchasing managers who are working to find high-quality packaging for dry goods—while also hitting their cost-saving goals—bulk bags can feel like a dream come true. But be sure to select a reliable and reputable partner with quality, customizable bags to keep the dream alive. Reach out to us for more pricing and cusotmization options.