When you go into business with a contract manufacturer, you are trusting that this partnership will be a good one that benefits your brand. That’s why it’s important to know the core competencies of a contract manufacturer and what to look for when going into a contract.
They are all going to offer the same services using similar equipment and capacities, but they are all going to have different skill sets and expertise. Take a look at the top 5 competencies that you’ll want to look for among the sea of contract manufacturers.
Top core competencies
Aside from the obvious areas on your list of needs, like understanding what equipment is used, what is their capacity, where are they performing the work, and what the process is like, you’ll want to look at their core competencies.
This refers to the things that differentiate one business from another. You’ll find many contract manufacturers offer the same types of services, but you are looking for differences in their expertise, proven track record, and more.
Just like you want to differentiate your brand from others in your industry, these differences you find that make you stand out are like the differences you are going to look for that make one contract manufacturer stand out from the rest.
Saving you time and money
The first thing you’ll want to look for is someone that will create the product in a way that ends up saving you money because by doing it yourself, you would have to have the equipment, knowledge, facilities, and abilities to do so.
When you hire a contract manufacturer, they should have everything in place to accomplish the task in an affordable and efficient way. Ask about the costs up front and know that you are already slashing your costs and risk in having a trusted manufacturer do the legwork for you.
You’ll clearly save time as your contract manufacturer develops the product that you’ve dreamt of creating, and you can focus on your business and your customers in the meantime. The time saved on this project will put you ahead of the competition that is working to create their product themselves.
Talk to your manufacturer about timelines when it comes to making your product, which may vary depending on the capacity, the equipment, the personnel, and their experience.
Personalized approach
You’ll want to work with someone who keeps communications open and available at all times during the process. You’ll also want someone that is available to you after the fact, in the event that there is an issue or repair needed. One of the top core competencies is that personal customer care where you can count on punctual service, production quality, and access to assistance along the way.
Types of manufacturing
Next, discuss a contract manufacturers specialties and typical type of manufacturing work. Is this company typically working with plastics or textiles? Make sure to dig deeper to find out what materials they are used to working with and have the equipment or technology for. You want to make sure this is going to be a good fit.
The knowledge and skillset
Lastly, a manufacturer’s knowledge and skill set are essential in your core competencies. Do you have the expertise to create what you need? Do they understand this type of product and what you are trying to create? Make sure to really understand the expertise and skill set they do have and make sure they will be capable of creating your vision.
These are the top 5 core competencies you should look into with a potential contract manufacturer. Getting your product from the development stage to the final product is a long process, but it all is made possible by working with the right manufacturer.