Adam Birnbaum
Senior Packaging Engineer | Sustainable & Cost-Optimized Solutions
NJ
Passionate packaging engineer with two decades of experience designing and optimizing packaging systems that balance performance, sustainability, and cost. Over my career I’ve developed solutions for global consumer brands, startups, and regulated industries, leading projects from concept through production. Skilled in material selection, structural design, automation integration, and supply chain cost reduction. I enjoy mentoring younger engineers and collaborating cross-functionally with design, operations, and marketing to bring innovative, practical packaging to market.
Professional Background
20 years
Certified Packaging Professional (CPP), ISTA Certified Packaging Laboratory Professional (CPLP), Six Sigma Green Belt, Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean Manufacturing Certification, Professional Engineer (PE) – Mechanical, ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, Project Management Professional (PMP)
Technical Interests & Expertise
ArtiosCAD
SolidWorks
AutoCAD
TOPS Pro
Cape Pack
ISTA & ASTM Testing
Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
Packaging Automation Systems
Lean Manufacturing
Six Sigma Methodology
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Supply Chain Optimization
Vendor & Material Sourcing
Project Management
Cost Reduction Analysis
Sustainability Strategy
Python
VBA
SQL
MATLAB
JavaScript
HTML/CSS
Sustainable Packaging Innovations
Packaging Automation & Robotics
Supply Chain Optimization
Materials Science & New Packaging Materials
Cost Reduction Strategies
Testing & Compliance (ISTA/ASTM)
CAD & Structural Design Tools
Packaging Equipment Integration
Regulatory Trends (FDA
EU)
Career Development & Mentoring in Engineering
HCP: Did you always want to work in med device or packaging in general?Jenkins: Originally, this was not part of my life path as I wanted to work in microbiology, specifically contributing to the basic research sector. After working in the basic research sector in several internships, I realized that basic science was not a good fit for me at the time. Over a conversation with a friend who had already been working in the packaging industry, I had learned about the different opportunities that we...
I love that idea, Samantha. A universal digital ID would solve so many headaches — from machine set-up to end-of-life sorting. We’ve seen pieces of it (RFID, QR codes, GS1 barcodes), but nothing that’s open, standardized, and rich enough to bridge design, automation, logistics, and recycling.The challenge I’ve seen is getting industry-wide adoption and keeping costs down. It’s tough to convince every brand, converter, and recycler to use the same data model. But if standards bodies or major reta...
Packaging keeps evolving — but what’s the one breakthrough that could truly change everything?Maybe it’s a material that’s fully circular, AI-driven design that optimizes cost and carbon, or smart packaging that tracks itself.What do you think is the single innovation that could redefine our industry — and what’s holding it back?