Jim Oko, Director of Process Engineering, Stellar Aside from producing high quality, safe products, what is one of the most important rules of food manufacturing? Do not short your customers. If a disaster puts your plant’s operations on pause, know your options for continuing production outside the walls of your facility. Co-packing, co-manufacturing and built-in redundancy are three solutions to keep your operations moving when your plant is down. Here are the key things to know about each. If your plant’s operations are down, identify which specific parts of your plant are inoperable. Is it the packaging portion of your food processing facility? Is it the actual manufacturing area? Is it both? You need to fulfill your orders. What is the minimum rate you must produce at so that you won’t short your customers? If your plant is down for the foreseeable future, what volume do you need to produce right now to minimize your company’s losses? 1. Co-packers If your plant’s packaging is down, consider engaging a contract packer, commonly referred to as a “co-packer.” A co-packer packages products for clients, working under contract to package your product as though it came from you directly. 2. Co-manufacturers If your facility’s manufacturing is out of order, consider engaging a contract manufacturer, known as a “co-manufacturer.” Similar to co-packers, co-manufacturers process products for clients under contract, producing it as if it came from you, the client. Whether you opt for a co-packer or a co-manufacturer, do not wait until you actually need them to reach out. It can take months to find the right fit and get through all of the red tape. Plus, you want to ensure you are not stressing their operations when taking on yours. Meet with them now to draft and execute the proper confidentiality agreements […]