Articles
Sample Packaging Best Practices - Uncovering Inefficiencies in Current Programs
Your current packaging program may have inefficiencies that you are not aware of, leading to a potential for budget overruns, time delays and other problems. If your contract manufacturing partner does not understand the total scope of your project, inefficiencies in material selection and packaging requirements may arise.
For example, a mid-size marketer in the health care and beauty industry recently developed an innovative product and promised their key customers that the product would be ready in time for an upcoming holiday promotion. The marketer hired a large design firm and developed an award-winning package design that was printed on collateral and shown to prospective customers. Unfortunately, the design firm did not understand that the process required to produce and fill this package would be very expensive and time consuming. Because the firm did not have an understanding of the entire process, the marketer was not able to meet the price goals or the promised timeline for the project.
Costly mistakes like this can be avoided by making sure everyone involved in your packaging program clearly understands your goals and objectives. Look for a contract manufacturing partner who has a complete understanding of the process required to make the program successful, even if they are only helping with a specific portion.
The success of a large multinational medical device manufacturer demonstrates how this strategy can benefit companies. Faced with the challenge of finding a packaging material that would give them the stability and compatibility required over the shelf life of the product, the manufacturer had worked with three single-source packaging companies without reaching a solution. Finally, they found a turnkey service provider that was able to locate a specific material that exceeded their goals. In addition, the turnkey provider was able to assist in the packaging and fulfillment process.
By locating an appropriate turnkey provider, the medical device manufacturer was able to save time and money, while ensuring that the package and packaging materials were designed to meet the product requirements and the filling and pack-out specifications. Working with a partner who understood the project's goals and objectives from start to finish helped them avoid the inefficiencies that lead to costly problems.
