Packaging Design Companies Things to Consider When Comparing

1. Packaging Design Companies: Things to Consider When Comparing Packaging Design Companies Part Two

2. Summary Evaluating packaging design companies means more than finding the supplier with the lowest price. Several qualifications come into play when you make this important selection. It’s important to take the time necessary to make sure your supplier can deliver even the most demanding packaging project to the highest standards.

3. Packing Design Companies • Evaluating packaging design companies means more than finding the supplier with the lowest price. Several qualifications come into play when you make this important selection. It’s important to take the time necessary to make sure your supplier can deliver even the most demanding packaging project to the highest standards. • Since vendor performance can cause your packaging project to succeed or fail, you can’t afford to select the wrong partner. You must evaluate many crucial criteria when hiring package design companies, including the following:

4. Customization • You want your solution tailored to your specific requirements not a “one-size-fits-all” solution. Your products are unique so your packaging should conform to any special design features.

5. Delivery Ability • Your supplier should be able to demonstrate how they can deliver your packaging project as required, especially if you have a time-sensitive deadline. Request a major milestone schedule that complies with your forecasts and demand requirements.

6. Adequate Facilities You can learn much about a supplier by visiting the facilities. • For example, site appearances often relate to the job you can expect on your product and tooling. Evaluate the cleanliness and environment of each building. Inspect the manufacturing equipment. Poorly maintained equipment could pose some concern for your end product’s quality. • Evaluate package design companies from a technology standpoint. Does the firm use the latest computer technologies? Suppliers should be able to demonstrate how they advance in-house capabilities and skills on a continual basis.

7. Communication and Customer Service Processes • Solid communication is important to any project’s success. Does your prospective vendor have workable processes in place? • Do they seem genuinely vested in your satisfaction during every step of the project? Does the supplier have a good track record with its customers and can you confirm performance levels through customer references?

8. Communication and Customer Service Processes • Are the project approach and internal processes well defined, established and easy to understand? • Well qualified packaging design companies will thoroughly analyze all aspects of your project, from design and manufacturing to presentation and delivery in the marketplace. • The company should be able to electronically transmit designs that can be viewed through generic, free software viewers (ie: Adobe Acrobat, e-Viewer, etc.) without you purchasing costly, vendor specific design software.

9. Communication and Customer Service Processes • Finally, make sure you have ample opportunities to provide input and feedback. Milestones should be established throughout the project to solicit your participation. • These developmental milestones can include, at a minimum, an initial customer conference, virtual design concept, prototype form, production molding and part approval.

10. Conclusion Packaging design companies meeting the above criteria make good candidates for further consideration. The best partnerships not only deliver your packaging project on-time, within budget and to your exact quality specifications, but also lay the groundwork for a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship.

11. About the Author Jim Boley is VP of Business Development at Flexpak Corporation, a world-class supplier of custom thermoforming and packaging solutions since 1974. For more information about packaging design companies, please visit our website today.