By Dave Wince, Vice President of Food Processing
Selecting the right food packaging supplier is a careful process that involves testing and retesting and, ultimately, forming a relationship built on trust. After all, packaging material is protecting not only your product and the public, but also your company and your brand.
But as companies grow and evolve, their needs change. It is possible that the original supplier you chose so carefully is no longer meeting the needs of your growing company. How do you know when it is time to start looking for an alternative packaging supplier?
Below are three warning signs that may indicate your current packaging supplier may no longer be a fit for your organization.
- Warning sign: Packaging solutions that meet the supplier’s order process, not your packaging needs.
Scenario: Food processing Company A was in a conundrum. Because of limited warehouse space, it was not able to receive large shipments of packaging at one time. But the smaller quantities of packaging they ordered meant higher pricing and additional lead times. When they asked their packaging supplier for an alternative, they were unable to provide a satisfactory solution.
Instead, Company A found the right solution in a flexible stocking program offered by another supplier. Company A is now able to place larger orders, have them manufactured and stored at the alternative packaging plant, and released at regular intervals.
- Warning sign: Growing concerns about the reliability of the packaging supply chain
Scenario: Packaging is an essential component of any supply chain so when food processing Company B became increasingly concerned about the reliability of its packaging supply, it also was concerned about the impact on the entire process. Delivery dates for new packaging orders had been pushed back, and there always seemed to be a new reason why the packaging order did not ship on time. While the production line had yet to be impacted, the company never wanted to reach the point where lines were shut down because of lack of packaging.
Although Company B knew that material and supply issues can happen with any vendor, it no longer felt that its current packaging supplier was as committed to its business as they once were. To Company B, this resulted in a fundamental lack of trust in the supplier and a clear indicator that it was time to look for alternative solutions. The company found the right solution with a new packaging supplier that scheduled monthly calls to review usages, talk about upcoming needs, and collaboratively plan to ensure they were never out of supply.
- Warning sign: Difficulty receiving ongoing technical support for packaging issues
Scenario: Food processing Company C had been using the same bags for several years without an issue, when suddenly it started experiencing problems. Its packaging supplier looked at samples, determined the bags were performing to its manufacturing standards, and determined the problem must be in Company C’s plant. Company C’s in-house maintenance team examined the production line but was not able to pinpoint a cause which left the organization frustrated and without a solution to the packaging problem.
Even packaging that has been used for years can start to experience issues. It takes someone with knowledge of not only the materials, but also the production equipment and how it can affect the packaging to efficiently diagnose where the problem occurs and recommend how to fix it. While other packaging companies offer this service, Company C found its packaging supplier was unable to provide that level of technical support without exorbitant fees or long wait times for technicians to be onsite. As the production line continued to age, Company C felt this support was even more critical and found another supplier that would be able to meet its ongoing technical support needs.
Change is difficult, but it is an inevitable part of business. If your packaging supplier is not meeting your current business needs, it may be time to consider making a switch.
