Kitting and Assembly – What It Is And Why You Need It.

Companies utilize kitting and assembly services to streamline order fulfillment and expedite product delivery. Kitting, specifically, is the process of arranging separate items into a “kit.” In other words, kitting involves packaging and shipping products that require a particular order and arrangement. A good example of items or products that benefit from kitting is subscription boxes and furniture that requires assembly. Assembly, on the other hand, arranges the individual components in the packing box that make up the kit. Therefore, any company that sells ready-to-assemble products, subscription boxes, or bundled items can greatly benefit from kitting and assembly services.

• Construct custom packaging
• Select individual components for the kit
• Arrange items in packing boxes, standard, and custom
• Affix branded stickers/labels/barcodes to items
• Close package and prep for shipping
• Add promotional flyers, inserts, and assembly instructions
• Utilize and install custom dunnage to packing boxes
• Wrap items
• Inspect and seal the final box
• Update SKU to reflect “Kit” SKU in the inventory management system
• Add custom numbers, logos, and personalization to items or packaging
• Procurement of right-size packaging
• Combine multiple items in a single shipment to create a bundle
• Retail kitting to follow routing guides
• FBA Kitting
• Bottle re-labeling – small quantities
• Bag and tag apparel
• Construct medical kits prebuilt for immediate lab shipment.

Kitting and bundling are often used interchangeably; however, there are subtle differences between the two. Bundling involves adding unrelated products into the same package. These bundles may include all varieties of a product or items that are frequently bought together but do not constitute a kit. Moreover, bundled items can help keep shipping costs down and reduce carbon emissions. On the other hand, kitting requires a specific order and arrangement of those products within the container. Kitting service providers are highly skilled, detail-oriented, and quality control experts. Since some of the same components and elements are used for both bundling and kitting, it’s easy to see why they can be confused.

The time-consuming task of arranging, assembling, and packaging component parts is costly. Using kitting and assembly services of 3PL can save your business time and money. It is also worth mentioning that manufacturers may also offer kitting services. Here are some of the main benefits:

• Shorter order fulfillment times
• Offer more packaged promotions
• Easier time moving low-selling stock or dead stock
• Lower overhead costs from warehousing and labor
• Higher profit margins
• Access to cost-effective labor management
• Flexible package options
• Custom, sustainable, and memorable unboxing experiences
• Reduced cycle times
• Adaptable response to customer demand or preferences
• Access to economies of scale on packaging materials