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Questions to ask before you change contract manufacturer
A change of manufacturer can support your next stage of growth. It can also expose gaps in specifications, documentation and ownership that were manageable when your range was smaller. Before you compare prices or agree a production date, establish what needs to move and what must stay consistent.
Start with a clear reason for the change. You may need more capacity, a different format, improved lead times or a supplier who can support another market. Write those requirements down. They become the basis for comparing options and deciding which compromises your business can accept.
Do you have a complete product specification?
Your current formula is only one part of the handover. Collect ingredient specifications, approved suppliers, packaging details, test methods, finished product limits and storage requirements. Check that the documents describe the product you sell today. If different teams hold different versions, resolve that before the transfer begins.
Ask who owns the formula and which information can be shared with a new manufacturer. Identify missing records early. A transfer built on incomplete information leaves the receiving team to make assumptions about materials, process and quality.
Can the new manufacturer deliver your requirements?
Discuss the product format, batch size, equipment and packaging with the people who will make it. Ask how they assess a new product before accepting it. Understand which steps need trials and which need further testing. Request evidence of the capability relevant to your product rather than relying on a broad claim about experience.
Make the intended sales markets part of that conversation. The manufacturer needs to know the requirements your technical team has identified. Agree who will provide documents and answer questions from your regulatory adviser, importer or distributor.
What might change during the transfer?
A new supplier, process or packaging component can affect the finished product. List proposed changes and assess their impact on specifications, claims, stability and the customer experience. Set a clear approval process. The team should know who can authorise a change and what information they need to make that decision.
Agree the acceptance criteria before trials begin. Decide how samples will be reviewed and how issues will be recorded. A clear decision trail helps your team distinguish a necessary adjustment from a change that needs more investigation.
Who owns each part of the handover?
A technical transfer involves your brand, the outgoing manufacturer, the receiving manufacturer and often several suppliers. Name an owner for each document, test and approval. Set dates that reflect the work still needed. Build in decision gates so the next step begins when the evidence is ready.
Keep your existing supply position visible while the transfer progresses. Review remaining stock, open orders and the first production plan with the relevant people. Agree how complaints, deviations and unexpected delays will be handled during the transition.
Is your team ready to approve the first batch?
Before production, check that specifications are agreed, artwork is approved and the release process is understood. Confirm what records you will receive with the batch and who reviews them. Carry the learning from trials into the working documents, so the next production run starts from an agreed position.
A well-planned transfer gives your team more than a new supplier. It creates clear responsibilities, current documentation and a repeatable process that can support the next stage of your range.
Talk to Rachel about manufacturer transitions
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