An evaluation of the packaging logistics of an avocado supply chain : a global case study

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dc.contributor.advisorLouw, Johannes Jacobusen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorPålsson, Henriken_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGroom, Rebecca Lynnen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2022-03-09T18:05:29Z
dc.date.accessioned2022-04-29T09:43:27Z
dc.date.available2022-03-09T18:05:29Z
dc.date.available2022-04-29T09:43:27Z
dc.date.issued2022-04
dc.descriptionThesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH SUMMARY: The function of packaging is to contain, protect, apportion, unitise, provide convenience and communicate. Packaging is the most important interface between the logistics system and products, as it is packed products, not products, that are handled in supply chains. Historically, packaging has been viewed as a cost-adding rather than a value-adding component of the supply chain, whereas integration of packaging logistics within the supply chain serves as a competitive advantage and holds great potential for innovation and supply chain efficiency. The avocado industry in South Africa has grown steadily in recent years, with Westfalia Fruit being the main avocado producer and exporter. The purpose of this study was to illuminate potential issues in Westfalia Fruit’s avocado packaging system within the global supply chain. In addition to potential packaging system issues, identification of challenges related to operating conditions and the efficiency of logistics processes, and how these factors could potentially influence fruit quality, were pivotal to the study. Although sound knowledge has developed related to packaging logistics, gaps still exist in the application of packaging logistics practices, methods and information on global food supply chains. This particularly applies to those responsible for transporting fresh produce (specifically avocados), which is evident in the amount of food loss and waste that occurs. In conjunction with this, there is a lack of insight into identification of complexities related to the operating conditions within global food supply chains, together with the influence of operating conditions and packaging logistics on fruit quality. Five focused research questions addressed specific areas of the research problem, aiming to illuminate issues pertaining to operating conditions, packaging, logistics efficiency, and the influence these factors could have on fruit quality. Data loggers, quality reports, Packaging Scorecards (PSCs) and semi-structured interviews were used as data collection instruments. Data loggers collected data pertaining to the operating conditions within the global avocado supply chain. Quality reports indicated the fruit quality received in this supply chain. Semi-structured interviews enabled PSCs to be completed for each actor in the supply chain, providing an evaluation of the packaging system. Commendable and problematic areas were identified within the supply chain and packaging system. The beginning stages of the supply chain, as well as later stages (global receiving warehouse), were identified as requiring improvement, given the operating conditions encountered therein. Furthermore, the back area of refrigerated storage units (trucks and containers) indicated less favourable operating conditions, particularly the area at the top of these units near the back. The load carrier and tertiary packaging as well as a global transporter’s interaction with the packaging system were identified as areas of concern within the packaging system evaluation. The efficiency of logistics processes was influenced and disrupted by a lack of refrigeration during transportation stages of the supply chain and dissatisfactory PSC features related to logistics activities. The influence of operating conditions and packaging on fruit quality was explored, showing the impact of these factors on prolonging shelf life, maintaining fruit quality and preventing food loss and waste.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die funksies van verpakking is insluiting, beskerming, verdeling, samevoeging, verskaffing van gemak en kommunikasie. Verpakking is die belangrikste koppelvlak tussen die logistieke stelsel en produkte aangesien verpakte produkte en nie onverpakte produkte nie, deur die voorsieningsketting hanteer word. Histories is verpakking gesien as koste bydraend tot die voorsieningsketting, en nie waarde bydraend nie, terwyl integrasie tussen verpakkingslogistiek en die voorsieningsketting mededingingsvoordele en groot potentiaal vir innovasie en voorsieningsketting-effektiwiteit inhou. Die Suid Afrikaanse avokado industrie het voortdurende groei oor die laaste paar jaar getoon, met Westfalia Fruit die hoof avokado produsent en uitvoerder. Die doel van die studie was om potentiële probleme in Westfalia Fruit se avokado verpakkingsisteem binne die globale voorsieningsketting uit te wys. Daarbenewens was die identifikasie van uitdagings wat verband hou met die operasionele kondisies en die effektiwiteit van die logistieke prosesse, asook die impak van die faktore op die kwaliteit van die vrugte, deurslaggewend tot die studie. Alhoewel breë kennis in verband met verpakkingslogistiek ontwikkel het, bestaan daar nog gapings in die toepassing van verpakkingslogistiek praktyke, metodes en inligting oor globale voedsel voorsieningskettings. Dit is veral toepaslik tot die vervoer van vars produkte (spesifiek avokado’s), en is sigbaar in die hoeveelheid voedsel verliese en vermorsing wat plaasvind. Hiermee saam is daar ʼn gebrek aan die identifikasie van ingewikkeldhede wat verband hou met die operasionele kondisies binne die globale voedel voorsieningsketting asook die impak van operasionele kondisies en verpakkingslogistiek op die kwaliteit van vrugte. Vyf navorsingsvrae het spesifieke areas van die navorsingsprobleem aangespreek, met die doel om kwessies met betrekking tot operasionele kondisies, verpakking, logistieke effektiwiteit en die invloed van hierdie faktore op die kwaliteit van vrugte uit te lig. Datavasleggers, kwaliteitsverslae, verpakkingstelkaarte en semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gebruik as data versamelings instrumente. Datavasleggers het data met betrekking tot operasionele kondisies binne die globale avokado voorsieningsketting versamel. Kwaliteitsverslae het die kwailiteit van die vrugte wat deur die voorsieningsketting ontvang is aangetoon. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude het dit moontlik gemaak om verpakkingstelkaarte vir elke speler in voorsieningsketting te voltooi en het as evaluasie van die verpakkingsisteem gedien. Prysenswaardige en problematiese areas binne die voorsieningsketting en verpakkingsisteem is geïdentifiseer. Op grond van operasionele kondisies, is die aanvangsfases van die voorsieningsketting, sowel as latere fases (globale ontvangs pakhuis) geïdentifiseer as areas wat verbetering benodig. Verder is die agterste dele, en veral die boonste areas aan die agterkant, van die verkoelingseenhede minder geskikte operasionele kondisies. Die vragdraende en tersiêre verpakking sowel as die interaksie van ʼn globale vervoerder met die verpakkingsisteem is as areas wat kommer wek, geïdentifiseer. Die effektiwiteit van die logistieke prosesse gevolg, is beïnvloed en ontwrig deur ʼn gebrek aan effektiewe verkoeling gedurende die vervoerstadiums in die voorsieningsketting (verder bevestig en uitgelig in die verwante onder-presterende verpakkingstelkaart-eienskappe). Die invloed van operasionele kondisies en verpakking op die kwaliteit van vrugte is ondersoek, en die impak van hierdie faktore op verlengde rakleeftyd, handhawing van die kwaliteit van vrugte en die voorkoming van voedsel verlies en vermorsing is aangedui.af_ZA
dc.description.versionMasters
dc.format.extentxviii, 200 pages : illustrations, includes annexures
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/124957
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch University
dc.subjectPacking for shipment -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectActive food packaging -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectAvocado industry -- Management -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectAvocado -- Cold storage -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectAvocado -- Effect of temperature on -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectUCTD
dc.titleAn evaluation of the packaging logistics of an avocado supply chain : a global case studyen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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