General Motors Packaging Specifications

Learn how to properly package GM parts for return to the plant.

As a General Motors partner, you are responsible for ensuring that any parts you return to the GM plant are properly packaged. Proper packaging ensures the parts are contained and protected during the shipping process so that they arrive without any damage. In addition, the General Motors packing specifications ensure the part labels are correct to speed up the return process. And they reduce the amount of waste in packaging materials when the box is unpacked and the parts returned to the shelves of the manufacturing plant of General Motors.

Shipping Container

The size and strength of the box or shipping container must accommodate the parts being returned to the plant in a manner that keeps the parts in place, but also protects the parts from damage. When possible, you should return parts in the same packaging or container in which the partner received the parts, with the exception of removing any exterior shipping labels. The container used for shipping must have a layout that is conducive to unpacking the box or shipping container so that it does not injure the person unpacking or unloading the parts at the plant. Modular containers must have the following dimensions, in inches: 48 x 45, 30 x 32, 32 x 36, or 24" x 30. Bulk shipments, such as pallets, must measure (in inches) 48 x 45 or 32 x 30. To ensure compliance with the container requirements, parts suppliers should contact GM to request return packaging.

Materials

Corrugated material used as external packaging or shipping boxes should be strong enough to hold the contents. GM requires a maximum of 44 pounds per inch width edge crush (ECT), or 275 pounds per square inch of parts in each corrugated container. All of the materials you use to package and ship the parts should be recyclable. Pallet cartons must contain a "breakaway" feature or be held in place with wide crown staples.

Internal Protection Materials

You should not use a foam material to protect the parts inside of the shipping container. Use recyclable materials, such as die-cut paper pulp or molded Kraft paper pulp. You should only use internal packaging materials where necessary. GM prefers that packaging materials are kept to a minimum to decrease the time it takes for unpacking the parts at the plant. Time-frames for unpacking materials and parts should be a maximum of one hour per container.

Closures

Tape, glue and staples are acceptable materials for closing boxes and shipping containers. You should choose the appropriate closure for the shipping container material and the weight of the container. Closures should be strong enough to keep the container securely shut and the parts from coming out of the container. You should use re-pulpable or paper tape over plastic tapes, since the paper-based tapes are recyclable and plastic ones are not. In situations where you need to strap parts to pallets for shipping, plastic straps and plastic stretch wrap should be used to secure and wrap the pallet of materials.

References

• General Motors: GM Containers