"Package" your career neatly!

Packaging is one of the major ingredients of commercial success of a product in present day market. Now, packaging is no more about enclosing and protecting the product, it is also about attracting the eye balls and creating image for the product that it envelops.
With the ongoing introduction of multiple product range into market on daily basis, the need for packaging experts has grown manifold and this occupation is also getting increasingly professionalized.
This article will present all important details about packaging courses and careers.
 
Subjects
The packaging science includes subjects like engineering, physics, chemistry, printing, marketing, manufacturing, graphic design, among others. Students will be trained in the topics such as packing of food products, logistics and physical distribution, packaging process, quality control, communication skills, package marketing, package economics, packaging laws and regulations, industrial electronics, applied mechanics, printing technology, machine drawing, production management and packaging management, among others.
 
Responsibilities
Packaging experts shall design the packages, which protect the goods in different phases from production line to customer and shall enhance the sales of the products. Based on the chemical and physical features of the respective product, packaging technologists decide what kind of material shall be used for packaging wrappers of the goods under consideration. While making such recommendations, they keep environmental, legal and logistical concerns in mind.
 
Skills
Following skills are required to fare well in this sector:

• Creativity,
• Out of the box thinking,
• Awareness of present marketing trends, and
• Communication Skills

Packaging programmes
The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), which is affiliated to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is the leading educational provider in packaging science. The institute has campuses in Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Hyderabad. The institute is offering the following programmes:
 
PG Diploma in Packaging
Eligibility:Graduation with minimum second class (in 12 +3 mode) with mathematics, physics, chemistry and microbiology or agriculture, food science, polymer science, engineering or technology as main subject or second subject. The final year students are also eligible to apply. However, they shall submit their degree certificate by the time of interview or have to forego the opportunity.
 
Entrance: Admission into this course is made based on the candidate's performance in the written test and interview. The written test consists of multiple-choice questions from mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering subjects, up to undergraduation level. The test will be conducted in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata; and the interview would be held at Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata. The seats distribution among the campuses is - Hyderabad - 60 seats, Mumbai - 80 seats, Delhi - 80 seats and Kolkata - 60 seats.
 
Certificate Programme in Packaging
Eligibility: Any degree or diploma.
Entrance: Fist come first serve basis.
 
Graduate Diploma in Packaging (In distance mode)
Eligibility: Degree in Science/ Engineering/ Technology/ Commerce/ Arts and one year work experience. Or Diploma in Engineering/ Technology and two years work experience.
The institute is offering quite a few executive development programmes for working executives and entrepreneurship programme for women. Besides these, several part-time courses are also on offer. For more details, visit - www.iip-in.com
 
In AP...
In Andhra Pradesh, a few polytechnic colleges are offering courses in packaging. The programme offered by these polytechnics includes six-month industrial training. Admissions into these programmes are made through Polytechnic Common Entrance Test (Polycet).
After the diploma, students can opt for a job or continue their studies by enrolling for engineering degree. They are eligible to study mechanical engineering, industrial production engineering, automobile, aeronautical, mechanical, marine and mechatronics branches.
 
Opportunities
Importance of packaging is increasing across the board. Hence, job is assured to the trained graduates. They can join in positions in material management, stores, supply chain management and packaging divisions of the seed manufacturing companies, food processing industries, chemical, pharmaceutical, electrical, automobiles and electronics industries.
 
Salaries
For IIP graduates, the starting salary package would range between Rs. 3 lakh and Rs. 5 lakh. Career growth would depend up on the skills and capabilities of the candidates.
 
Top recruiters

• HPCL
• Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
• Dabur India Ltd.
• Cadbury India Ltd.
• ITC Ltd.
• Johnson and Johnson Ltd.
• Castrol India Ltd.
• Coca-Cola India Ltd

Increasing importance

The Indian packaging industry has crossed Rs. 1 lakh crore mark and the annual growth is between 13% and 15%. This creates demand for skilled packaging technologists. In the past, the purchasing manager or somebody from a similar position would oversee the packaging division.

Now, the situation is changing and the companies prefer trained packaging technologist for their packaging divisions. Scientific knowledge, logical thinking, application of apt technologies to the problem at hand are the three important skills that a candidate should possess to thrive in this career.

Those who have done diploma from IIP are being offered annual package between of Rs. 2.5 lakh and Rs. 8 lakh. One can have steady career growth and reach up to General Manager Position, who can earn up to Rs. 25 lakh annual package. By pursuing the three-month diploma, graduates can get jobs with minimum of Rs. 1.5 lakh annual package. The FDI reforms in retail sector are going to throw quite a lot of outsourcing opportunities to packaging technologists. Hence, the opportunity for self-employment will also be very high in this sector.
 
-A.V.P.S. Chakravarthy, Chairman, IIP -Hyderabad