A Packaging Redesign Project at IKEA

IKEA is a product developing company, known for putting packaging and logistics issues at the top of its agenda. At IKEA, the product and the packaging are developed concurrently with the aim of lowering the total cost from the supplier to the customer. During the years 2002 to 2004, a pckaging redesign project was conducted at IKEA. The purpose of the project was to redesign the packaging for an existing product in order to minimize empty space. Very early on, it was evident that the suggested new packaging solution required a product redesign along with new manufacturing and packaging equipment. The product, tealights, was a complicated product due to safety regulations, standard sizes, etc. The project group not only had to involve different functions within IKEA but also had to convince a tealight manufacturer to collaborate. The results of the project had great implications for the logistics activities in the supply chain and affected all supply chain actors in many ways. The case is a good example of the interdisciplinary nature of packaging and its relations with product design and logistics activities.