Why Select an Outstanding Outsourcing Partner?

A partner must be able to complete your project at a competitive cost aligned with your time schedule with quality assurance. They may also solve some common problems in start-up businesses, limited production facilities, concerns about equipment investments, physical facilities and personnel training and more.

Here are some conditions which may lead you to a reliable outsourcing partner:

There is no available in-house equipment or expertise for a particular job.
There’s an alternative use viewed as a higher priority for the in-house equipment.
A series of geographically separated facilities could serve the product better for national distribution.
New packaging forms unfamiliar to your staff and equipment are being considered.
Your actual or projected product volume under or over employs your own manufacturing lines, either short or long term.
There's a short run for a new product market test, gift pack or seasonal appeal which may require your company to invest in new equipment.
Promoting your product with increasingly popular marketing weapons of non-standard packaging or promotional inserts requiring special machinery or labor intensive work is specified.
The pressure of new business or deadlines creates a heavy, short-term workload for which you require experienced help to supplement the efforts of in-house staff.
A product may more economically be shipped in bulk to a distant market, then unit packed locally.
There's a specific, short-term requirement that may be better served by specific experience or equipment you don't have.
Operations problems such as your plant closing for maintenance or your being faced with a labor availability problem cause you to consider alternative options.
There's a warehouse full of a product that needs re-working to make it saleable.
There’s a new package form is to be market tested before general introduction.
There's a corporate down-sizing in personnel, facilities or both.
The company is faced with a high investment to meet regulatory and environmental requirements.

How to Make the Right Partnering Decision?

First, make sure your project scope and its goals are clearly stated and understood inside your company...then start looking for a qualified outsourcing partner to help achieve them.

Use a wide range of criteria to evaluate your situation. Don't forget to evaluate the personality of you and your company in employing criteria such as these following suggestions to your decision process:

Quality. Look for signs of innovation, unique approaches, and a different perspective. Ask about the in-house details of its quality controls.
Controls. Do you see eye-to-eye on detailed paperwork or control requirements. Help your new partner put the procedures in place and understand the analytical skills used to communicate with you in providing a full and accurate picture of operations and the solutions to any arising problems.
Size. Is the company large enough or small enough to handle your project?
Experience. A staff capable of solving problems and implementing solutions is very important. Successful contract packaging relies on good management and manufacturing practices. . .on both sides of the contract.
Financial strength. Does the new partner have the financial strength you need? Can your company provide a back up if needed?
Good Communication. Brilliant thoughts and innovative solutions will do you no good if you don’t install effective communication channels with your new partner.
Personalities. A good match of personalities between key staff of both companies helps ensure a successful relationship.
Location. Convenient location relative to you and your manufacturing and distribution facilities can save delivery time and lower freight charges, possibly impacting the total cost of your project. But keep in mind that the savings achieved by using most firms prepared to assist you can easily outweigh most freight costs.
Cost. Thoroughly study, analyze, and consider costs in relation to the service that you expect to receive.
Conflicts? Is there a proprietary line which might compete with your product line?
Strong references. Ask for a list of other clients.

This content was provided by CMPA.