Contract packaging companies are a valuable tool for any business. They can reduce costs and provide peace of mind. Choosing the right contract packager is essential to ensure success for your product. Look for the following qualities to find a packaging partner that fits your business needs:
Experience
Choosing the right contract packager is an important decision. The wrong choice can create roadblocks and setbacks, while the right partner can streamline operations and lift a heavy weight off your shoulders.
Using a contract packager is an excellent option for companies that want to get their products to market quickly but don’t have the capacity or budget to invest in equipment to automate packaging. Contract packagers offer flexibility and a wide range of packaging methods, so you can ensure your product will be packaged properly to reach your target audience.
When searching for a contract packager, look for one with experience and expertise that match your needs. The best way to do this is by reviewing previous work experience, requesting references, and visiting the company’s facility. It will help you determine if the packager is equipped to meet your packaging needs and if they have strong ethics. It will also ensure they can handle your business’s unique specifications and assembly instructions. You can search for a packager with good experience using a directory or finding a packaging professional.
Flexibility
The right contract packager (or contract manufacturer) has a powerful impact on your company’s trajectory and bottom line. They provide the flexibility to quickly scale up or down as needed and reduce overall supply chain costs.
A contract manufacturer can provide a range of services to your business, including labeling, assembly, kitting, and more. They may also offer other value-added capabilities like barcoding and RFID tags that track products from the warehouse to the checkout.
Because contract packagers live and breathe packaging all day, they’re experts at reducing the costs of your product supply chain. They are likely experienced with various machine configurations and are familiar with the most efficient way to apply labels, tape, etc. Plus, they can take the burden of managing a workforce off your shoulders by hiring and training employees for you. It saves you the cost of payroll, health insurance, and more. They can even lower your overhead by allowing you to pay one fixed price per manufactured unit.
Technology
Copackers provide businesses with packaging services when they can’t do so in-house. The right contract packager can help manufacturers save time, money, and effort by streamlining operations and improving efficiency throughout the supply chain.
When choosing a contract packager, it is important to consider their technology capabilities. Having state-of-the-art equipment and machinery can help ensure a high-quality finished product. The best contract packagers will also use automation to minimize labor costs and increase operational flexibility.
A packager’s production capabilities will also affect how fast they can turn around orders. Look for a contract packager with multiple facilities throughout North America to mitigate shipping costs and optimize transportation logistics.
Lastly, the most reliable contract packagers will combine fulfillment and packaging design under one roof. It allows for a more seamless, efficient process by eliminating the need to mediate between different parties. In addition, it can lead to significant design improvements that wouldn’t be possible if the two processes were handled separately.
Innovation
If you are a brand looking for a contract packager to offer your product a competitive edge, it’s important to consider innovation. Your contract packager will often have an extensive knowledge base and a wide range of industry experiences that can save you time and money.
For example, suppose your company is new to the snack food market. In that case, a copacker can help you design and develop packaging that speaks to your consumer while considering sustainability and cost-effectiveness. They are also able to provide quick turnaround times and high efficiency.
In addition, the right contract packaging partner will have a broad network of North American facilities for various machine configurations to minimize downtime and increase operational flexibility. They should also offer an efficient enterprise resource planning and warehouse management system to distribute inventory data.
It would be best to look for other factors in a contract packager: experience, strong ethics, and communication skills. Reviewing all the available options, you will find a contract packager that can provide your business with the right services.
Cost
When choosing a copacker, consider the overall costs of production. Often, contract packagers offer bulk manufacturing capabilities, which reduce the packaging and shipping cost per manufactured unit. They also have pricing flexibility that can allow for a low-cost introductory price to the market while still offering your product competitive margins.
A contract packager may be ideal to scale up your production. It can provide you with the necessary capacity to meet your needs without the cost of adding additional machinery to your production facilities.
Medical device and pharmaceutical companies face unique challenges when it comes to their packaging. These devices must be sterile and packaged properly to ensure they are safe and effective. A contract packager specializing in these industries will have the know-how to ensure these regulations are met for your specific product.
Many contract packagers also provide order fulfillment services. Having these two functions under the same roof can save you time and money by eliminating the need for mediating between multiple parties.
