First-time working with a contract manufacturer: how to keep the project on track

In this blog series, we outline what you need to know when it’s time to start working with a contract manufacturer. This is an exciting and sometimes terrifying time and we can help you prepare for this journey.

Now that you understand the basic process and the need-to-know terms, you are ready to focus on what your role as the customer in this new relationship is because your work is just beginning. Many times projects run long or over budget and quality issues come up in production. 

Below are 4 steps to take to ensure your project goes smoothly:

Weekly calls

It might seem basic, but a weekly 30-minute touch base with your manufacturer will save you a ton of time in the long run. These chats should have an agenda and cover the next steps as well as what is still needed to complete the project.

Give clear and concise official instruction

It is your job to ensure all specs are clearly written, approved, and provided to the vendor. Not clearly communicating the details can lead to late production or errors in your products. This includes details such as:

• Did you communicate you wanted your logo facing the front of the container not the back?

• Did you specify how full the container should be?

• On a body cream, do you want a seal or no seal? Swirl or no swirl?

All of these seemingly small details will cause you headaches if you’re not on top of clearly and consistently communicating them to your manufacturer

Limit change orders 

The more artwork changes, packaging changes or changes of any kind you make once you have approved a formula or a package, the later your project will be. Every time you make a small change, even if it's one color on your label, the manufacturer has to make the same change in their system, oftentimes making a new part number, updating documents, and systems. 

Every time this happens it leaves the door open to error and eats up valuable time. So once you have artwork released and formulas approved don’t make changes unless you are prepared for a delay in your project.

Edit your expectations

You will always have the most detailed eye and nose for your own product. But you need to alter your mindset to understand that in mass production, there will be variations and changes to what you are used to. When these variations and imperfections come up, you should ask yourself if these issues affect your brand and are worth fixing or if the issue is small and imperceptible to the average consumer. If it’s a personal preference over a quality issue, you should reframe your thinking to save you time and money.

If you currently have a manufacturer and are having issues, let us know, we’d be happy to see if there is a way we can be value-added for you.