If you don’t do your homework, choosing a manufacturer to develop your products can be a very long and costly process. In addition, it can take years of trial and error to select the correct manufacturer to produce your quality products.
So, to try to make the process less painful, entrepreneurs should ask these two questions:
1. What other companies do they currently produce products for?
You always want to choose reputable manufacturers in the industry and who manufacture quality products for companies that you know of in the marketplace. If they produce for recognizable brands, you will know that their facilities have been visited and audited by major retailers across the globe.
2. What is their production capacity?
Production capacity is key to your long-term success. You may be starting off small, but if you are serious about bringing your products to market, you need to ensure that you can produce the order. You deliver on time once you close that big sale. The last thing you want to do is under-delivery with a new customer or scramble to find a new manufacturer to produce a large order.
Due diligence can reduce the trials and eliminate some of the headaches you can encounter trying to find the proper manufacturer. Companies often lose significant amounts of money by not ensuring that they have chosen the appropriate manufacturer — and startup entrepreneurs cannot afford this kind of loss. Make sure to do your homework and ask as many questions as needed. This will show the manufacturer that you pay attention to detail and are on top of their production.