how to become a packaging engineer
How to Become a Packaging Engineer
A packaging engineer works on product packaging design and technology. This Buzzle write-up will tell you how to become a packaging engineer.
- The primary job responsibility of a packaging engineer entails 'engineering' a suitable 'package' for different products.
- He observes the product and develops the package design, to begin with.
- He researches on material and machinery for the package manufacturing process.
- He checks on the available tools and sets the production wheels in motion.
- He helps coordinate between different departments and writes important reports.
- He oversees the development process and prepares to test the package.
- He reports any glitches to his seniors and may send the product for redesign or redevelopment in case of errors.
- Good computer literacy
- Excellent critical-thinking skills
- Good analytical skills
- Problem-solving capabilities
- Brilliant mathematical aptitude
- Good technical skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Taking up subjects, like physics and math in high school would be a fairly good start.
- There are plenty of options for a college degree in this field. As mentioned before, MSU began the trend of offering full-time degrees in packaging science. Since then and until now, there are many universities that offer bachelor's degrees in packaging engineering and sciences.
- In fact, any engineering degree (production, manufacturing, mechanical, biochemistry, etc.) will be a strong base for a career in packaging. You can enroll for a master's degree in an area of your specialization.
- In the course of your study, you will learn about packaging basics, package design, development, manufacturing, material, machinery, equipment, process, etc.
- You will also learn about business and project management, industry standards, logistics, plastic technology, etc.
- There is no mandatory certification for a career in packaging. However, you may enroll for additional certificate or diploma courses to hone your skills further.
- You can complete certificate programs in CAD (computer-aided design), economics, business communication, industrial graphic design, etc. This will enhance your resume and help you get better jobs.
- Packaging engineers do not ideally require a license. It is available though, and if you wish to obtain the licensure, you can take the required exam.
- An engineering degree is a professional course and is available at most of the renowned educational institutes.
- Most of the programs have internships as a part of the coursework.
- This program teaches students about the practical applications of packaging.
- You get to learn and understand how the package is designed, developed, manufactured and then tested on the required product.
- At an entry-level, qualified packaging engineers join as associate engineers and undergo on-the-job training.
- A majority of the companies require that their candidates have at least 7 years of work experience before joining as a core package engineer.
- This goes to say that after graduation and internship, it is advisable for packaging engineers to join work in any related field. This experience teaches them a lot about design, material, packaging, outsourcing, distribution, etc. By the time they enter a core packaging company, they are fully equipped to take on the challenges.
- Packaging engineers are very well-paid, irrespective of whether they are at an entry-level position or a management position.
- The salary range for a fairly-experienced packaging engineer is between USD 50,000 and USD 100,000.
- The salary varies with the location, designation, and company.
- The median salary as per the latest statistics may amount to approximately USD 70,000.
- Candidates with excellent credentials and recommendations may earn more than USD 100,000 after a few years of experience.
- The career path of a packaging engineer may vary with respect to his educational qualifications.
- Ideally, if you have enrolled in a pure packaging engineering degree, you may be an associate engineer in the same field.
- However, statistics reveal that candidates who have related degrees have almost the same level of knowledge and expertise after completing specialized training programs.
- Surprisingly, the BLS predicts a slightly slower growth for this field within the next decade.
- That said, the slow job growth does not indicate a fall in demand, so candidates wanting to specialize in this field can go ahead with pursuing their interests.
- The job is hectic of course; despite the fact that you work regular hours. Also, the responsibilities are stressful.