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If you are choosing to have other companies make your products for you, then you may feel that you have less control over the quality of the finished articles. This can be a vital flaw when you are working on your own brand and want your name to be associated with top-notch quality. However, by taking a few very simple steps, you can ensure that the quality of your products never becomes an issue.
#1 Check the quality
Seek out a manufacturing company that shares your enthusiasm for quality. Don’t just place large orders straight off the bat, but ask to be shown around the site while it is running. Ask if you can check product quality and watch how they perform any manufacturing processes before you talk figures.
You may want to have a prototype made so that you can see your product before it goes into production, but be aware that the prototype you get may not be made in the same way as a product in a large batch – it could be assembled on a 3D printer for instance.
#2 Check the reputation
You should also check out the reputation of the manufacturer you are thinking of. If they have a poor reputation for low-quality products or continuously missing deadlines, you will probably want to stay well away from them. You should also enquire into what quantities they will be able to supply and the timeframe surrounding them. This will arm you with the necessary information as to whether they will be able to keep up with your demand and whether their quality will slip when the pressure is on.
#3 Check the manufacturing process
Keep an eye on the most up-to-date manufacturing processes available. Using manufacturing companies that use robots on their production lines may provide you with a better and more measured product as the human element is removed. Rotomolding, for instance, will provide you with a product that has the same wall thickness throughout because of the processes involved. This is a very simplistic process that is incredibly versatile and adaptable to a wide range of different products, and just a quick look to explain what is rotomolding will soon have you seeing why.
Providing your customers with top-quality items that have longevity will ensure that they will purchase from you time and time again while also recommending your products to all they know.
A few final thoughts
If you are putting your name on a product, you are going to want it to be right. Taking the time to source the right manufacturer that has a reputation that you will be keen to embrace is key. Understand that any prototype that has been made for you may be the result of a 3D printer and therefore a totally different quality to any of the items you then get from a live production line.
However, you have to make sure they can keep the quality up when demand gets high. Using a company that uses processes such as rotomolding can be a good idea, as working with robots in this way can be scalable without the risk of rushed work, bad habits, corner-cutting, or human error being involved.
