Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report case studies conducted in a company in Italy that produces packaging systems, in comparison with a Brazilian company within a similar industrial sector. The paper compares those two cases in terms of quality function deployment (QFD) usage and...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the PACK EXPO show (packaging technology), with emphasis on the new robot innovations and applications to packaging on display. Design/methodology/approach – The paper includes in‐depth interviews with exhibitors of robots of all types and...

This paper addresses the question of trade‐offs in supply chains by exploring the roles of packaging in distribution networks. Taking a starting point in the logistical role of packaging and the potential trade‐offs with its marketing and environmental roles, the paper illustrates some...