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Figure 22: Some RTI design alternatives
6.5. The Right Secondary RTI Design
Although specific applications require specific features,
typical design criteria are:
• Suitable for both automated and manual
handling, e.g. with handholds
• Limited in proliferation, whilst not
constraining development
• Ease of identification, automatically and
manually, in terms of the item itself, the owner
and the RTI contents
• Be durable
RTI is appropriate in two different environments. The
first is in dedicated retail operations, where it allows
efficient shelf filling, eliminating the cost and handling
associated with secondary packaging. In this type of
dedicated system, the higher the turn rate of such RTI,
the more the retail investment is justified. Retail-owned
RTI used for fresh fruit and vegetables, for example,
can generate a turn rate of 20 upwards.
40
Collapsible Nestable – Bale Arms
Flat Tray
Source: A.T. Kearney, Efficient Unit Loads project
Nestable – 180˚ Stack
Same Volume Empty and Full
6.6. The Right RTI Management
An appropriate management system for secondary and
tertiary RTI has to ensure that RTI stocks are in the
right place, quantity and condition, i.e. clean, at the
right time. The management system covers forecasting,
stock balancing, control, communication channels,
hand-over, servicing and charging. Much of the intercompany
communication required for (forecasting
data, orders of empties, invoices, payment) should be
electronic. Guidelines on the efficient use of Electronic
Data Interchange (EDI) have been published by ECR
Europe in the ER and EDI Report.
Depending on the particular application, management
systems vary significantly. The main differences occur in
the ownership of RTI and their penetration, leading to
individual, bilateral and pool RTI systems. Management
systems should focus on three aspects:
• Harmonisation
• Turn rate
• Forecasting
The Efficient Unit Loads Report