While many people couldn't explain what a packaging engineer does, JoAnn
Hines insists the work they do is socially significant.
Hines is the executive editor of Packaging Horizons Magazine. "Its social
value is extremely important. Much of the world food shortage could be solved
with proper packaging and storage. This is an issue that will face everyone
in the coming decade," she says.
"The changes in packaging technology over the last five years exceed the
changes in the last 40," says Hines. "Packaging can solve many problems, such
as food shortages in the emerging and Third World countries. Packaging protects,
conveys and then helps to sell the product. All of this combined makes for
a very unique niche with unlimited potential for growth and change."
"Often, we think of packaging as bad for the environment," states Dave
Newcorn, senior editor of Packaging World Magazine. "Really, you find that
packaging is one of the underpinnings of modern society. Think about all of
the things we buy in the grocery store. A tenth would be available without
modern packaging.
"A hundred years ago, in the winter you stopped eating fruit. Our lives
are very different because of packaging. In developing countries, sometimes
the lack of mastery of packaging is actually hindering the development of
society."
The biggest misconception about the packaging industry is that it doesn't
exist. Walter Soroka, a packaging engineering teacher and author of Fundamentals
of Packaging Technology, says parents of his students often ask their children
if they can actually get a job in packaging.
"Everybody underestimates it," says Sorota. "[Our] packaging program has
the highest placement rate out of any other program in the entire college.
Ninety percent of our students have a full-time job within two months of graduation."
Ron Keller has been in the business for about 40 years. He chose the packaging
field because of the opportunity it offered him. "At that point, it was really
in its infancy and was a growing industry. I got involved with a packaging
machinery manufacturer. The machinery looked interesting and the future opportunity
looked fine."
"The most challenging part of working in the packaging industry is to keep
updated with changing packaging trends and technologies in the U.S. and abroad,"
says Hines.
Newcorn says packaging engineers are under a lot of pressure to make operations
more efficient. "Those who master squeezing efficiency out of a packaging
line can pretty much write their own ticket."
What's the most rewarding thing about this career?
"Going through the whole exercise -- helping to create a new packaged product
and finally seeing it on the shelf. A lot of things -- trying to beat the
competition to the market," says Keller. For example, when Bristol-Myers came
out with a new product, he helped make it possible for them to go from zero
production to 340 a minute in six weeks.
"You're not stuck doing the same thing day in and day out," says Newcorn.
"There's always a new product and you're always having to come up with the
best design. You have to figure out the best tools and technology available
as a society to get the product to market as cost-effectively as possible."
Penny Vermeulen works with an engineering group. She says the work is very
satisfying. "I must admit that it has been rewarding and interesting. When
we get a new line or revamped line humming along and the production figures
coming off the end of the line are better than the customer could have imagined,
it really makes you feel good."
Keller advises students to get a mechanical engineering degree and decide
if they want to work on the user side of the desk (companies which use the
equipment), or if you want to work on the supplier side of the desk (those
who supply the machinery).
Besides end users and machinery manufacturers, you also have those who
make the materials -- the actual packaging.
"Someone new to the industry could greatly benefit from developing a specialization
within this very large industry," notes Hines. "It's hard to get jobs as a
generalist. Most packaging companies have become extremely sophisticated in
their packaging technology and service a specific industry."
Soroka's advice? "Do it!"