When you receive a box from a shipment service company, there's always a disturbing question after delivery; did my package get opened along the way? There are many ways of sealing a box. The most common way to seal boxes is with regular packing tape. This type of tape can have its adhesive ripped off and then resealed without any indication. However, tamper-evident shipping supplies were designed to leave an indicator when someone has removed, lifted, or cut through a seal.
As with anything, the word "evident" is important here, since this type of packaging shows signs of possible intrusion into the contents instead of preventing all intrusion. Regardless of the type of tape used on a box, no tape will keep a package sealed forever. Instead, the goal of tamper-evident packaging is to make it difficult to cover up when someone opens the package, thereby alerting the sender and receiver when they need to take a closer inspection of their packages.
Security tape is available that includes messages like "Opened", "Void", etc., that remain attached when the tape is torn. There are tapes that break apart into pieces when the tape is peeled away. Also, some tamper-evident materials include security labels that will tear when something that crosses over them is moved.
Choose a seal that matches the sealant (tape) to the carton and product being shipped. Tape that works well on smooth surfaces like plastic may perform poorly on rough cardboard. All types of environmental factors like dust, oils, cold temperatures, heat and moist environments can affect how well the adhesive works and you should ask your supplier which conditions it was tested under.
Test samples of your shipments prior to using the material on actual customer shipments. Ensure the sample box is clean and free of moisture. Apply the sealant firmly to ensure it adheres properly and allow it to sit for the recommended amount of time according to the manufacturer. Once it has bonded sufficiently test it to determine if the evidence of tampering is visible.
All openings should be considered since a strip running across the top of a carton offers very little protection if the bottom seam can be easily opened and closed with standard packing tape. Check the sides of the cartons for openable flaps or seams, examine areas where two parts of a mailing bag meet together as well as anywhere else a person might be able to insert his hand to touch the product being shipped without having to touch the area that bears the marker.
In addition to providing a visible proof of unauthorized access to contents, some shipping materials offer pre-shipment numbering systems. When you document the number on your records upon sending out an order you provide documentation to verify the integrity of the contents upon receipt. In cases where high value items are being sent consider taking photographs documenting condition at pick-up.
Your customers should understand what your tamper evident markings mean. Therefore, send an explanatory e-mail along with each order explaining what the marks signify and instructing them to visually inspect the packaging prior to opening. Should the seal appear damaged, request that your customers photograph the damage and notify you immediately so you can coordinate further action with either your own staff or with the shipping carrier.
While tamper-evident materials do not diminish the importance of creating a secure closure for packages, some tamper-evident products provide insufficient strength for replacing standard packing tape. Therefore, ensure that all closures on your packages create a good seal and contain a suitable visual indicator for authorized persons to identify any potential tampering.
There is no perfect solution to ensuring that all shipments will arrive safely intact. The most effective method is to provide a clear signal that indicates the possibility of unauthorized entry. With proper selection of tamper evident supplies, testing them on real packages, applying a unique identifier to each opening point, educating customers about what they should look for and what steps they should follow, businesses can greatly minimize the ability of intruders to conceal their actions.
No comments:
Post a Comment