Your product packaging is often the final step to get your products on the shelves, and if you are having difficulties when it comes to your packaging – fulfilling it on time, making sure it follows regulations and your requirements, and so on – then you may very well need help from a contract packing service. But whilst there are contract packers that can provide you with an excellent level of skill and experience as well as the right equipment and industry know-how, not all of them are created equal. In other words, some are better than others. But how can you realistically select the right one? It all has to do with the right questions and then some. So here’s a list of the top questions you should ask a potential contract packing partner.
The vital questions
By asking the right questions, you can establish if a contract packing firm is the right fit.
- What kind of equipment do you have? Is your equipment adequate for my requirements?
A good contract packer will have all sorts of equipment, and these are designed to be suitable for many general requirements. But whether their equipment is right or not will depend on the kind of product you produce and are planning to pack. If your product is unique and specialised, you may need special tools and equipment, so make sure your contract packing company has the ideal equipment to pack it right.
Speaking of equipment, it would be better if the contract packing service already had the equipment and tools on hand instead of outsourcing it from another company once you have signed the contract.
- Will your rates fit my projected budget?
This is an easy question to ask – but it’s not as easy to answer. So you should think as carefully as possible about your projected budget and what you can work with and figure it out from the beginning. But here’s what you should note: an expert contract packing service may find a way to reduce your expenses, but think about this as well – contract packers will be efficient and will have a good idea of a project’s budget once you give them the details, so if you’ve talked to a number of them and you still haven’t found one that can fit your budget, it may be time to increase your budget.
- What is the length of time needed to complete the project?
Your timeframe is essential, and you would want to make sure that you can plan your operations around the process, as confirmed by contract packing specialists such as https://cannonpacking.co.uk/contract-packing/. It’s a good idea to talk about timeframes and deadlines with your potential contract packing firm before you make an agreement. Most contract packing experts will have a good idea of the length of time needed for particular projects, especially if they’ve done similar work in the past, so they should be able to give you a proper and straightforward answer.
- What are your procedures for quality control?
Aside from ensuring they can work with the quantities you require; you also have to make sure they have the proper procedures for quality control. They should provide you with a good definition and explanation of their systems, and it would be good if they were properly certified and accredited as well.