Trying to find the best supplement manufacturer?

Finding it more difficult than you imagined it would be?

When you’re attempting to choose a great manufacturer it can be easy to get frustrated fast. Manufacturers can vary quite a bit and you may not be sure what you should be looking for.

Luckily, you’re in the right place. Below we’ll give you our top tips for choosing the best supplement manufacturer out there.

1. Look For The Right Certifications

One of the most important things to look for in a supplement contract manufacturer is to make sure they have the best certifications and that they can meet important regulations.

You’ll want to look for basic certifications that prove that the manufacturer is reliable. You’ll want to look for cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) compliance which is administered by the FDA and often third-party verified by NSF or NPA.

It’s also important to think about your needs beforehand and determine what certifications you would like to be able to place on your label. An organic or kosher label, for example, will require that the manufacturer is certified for those needs.

2. Check For Minimum Order Requirements

Another important item you’ll need to think about when choosing a manufacturer is what their minimum order requirements will be. At the very least, most manufacturers will require a minimum of 1,000, but it can often be more than this as well.

Depending on the size of the orders you’ll be making, you’ll want to consider this carefully and make sure that the minimum order requirement isn’t too large for your needs.

Be sure to ask beforehand to make sure that you’ll be able to work with the manufacturer on your nutrition supplements.

3. Know the Fulfillment Options Available

Most start-ups will need help with supplement fulfillment. If this is the case for you as well, you’ll want to find out beforehand what you can expect from the manufacturer.

Find out what options they have for packaging, shipping, and storage. A great manufacturer will be able to offer you assistance in all three of these areas.

They’ll be able to work with you on the design and branding of your supplement and will have the expertise needed to offer professional shipping and storage services as well.

If you think you’ll need to change your design for future lines of your supplement find out if they’ll have the skills to help you with the design and labeling process as needed. You should also make sure that the manufacturer knows how to meet all regulatory requirements when it comes to packaging your product.

4. Find Out About Manufacturing Lead Times

When evaluating a manufacturer, you’ll also want to find out about what lead times to expect from them.

This can be a bit trickier than you may realize to evaluate properly. Even though you may assume that fast lead times would be better, you don’t necessarily want to go with the fastest option.

If lead times are particularly fast, it may be a sign that a manufacturer is not doing a thorough job. They may be cutting corners in certain ways. Because of this, you’ll also want to ask some follow-up questions to find out exactly what you can expect from the process.

5. Ask About Research, Development and Formulation Options

You’ll also need to find out about what types of research, development, and formulation options are available from the supplement manufacturer.

The manufacturer should have a research and development team that is fully qualified and ready to help you with testing and with documentation. The team should also have a great lab that they can do all of their development and research activities to ensure they’re helping you succeed with your needs.

The formulation of dietary supplements can be tricky to get perfect, so it can be a huge help to choose a manufacturer that can help you with the design process.

6. Check For Specific Supplement Manufacturing Options

You also need to find out about the specific options available for manufacturing your supplements.

First of all, you should ask what types of supplements they are able to create for you. Check if they have capabilities for creating capsules, tablets, soft gels, and powders. Depending on the manufacturer they may be only able to manufacture one type of supplement.

You should also ask about their options for dealing with ingredients. Find out if you will be able to buy the ingredients on your own and then store them in their space.

You should also find out what ingredients they already have in stock to be used. Sourcing of ingredients is a critical link in the supply chain–understand from the manufacturer how your ingredients will be sourced and validated for quality.

7. Look For Excellent Customer Service

You also need to look for a manufacturer that understands the value of customer service. A superior manufacturing company will prioritize the customer experience. They’ll ensure that you’re happy with the results that you’re getting. They’ll ensure that you’re well informed at all times.

When you work with a manufacturer you’ll be entering an ongoing relationship. You will be working closely to meet your supplement manufacturing needs.

Evaluate their customer service skills when you initially speak to a manufacturer. Ensure that they have a friendly, welcoming and personable demeanor. You should find out about the options and times available for getting in touch.

Keep in mind that if they are friendly and communicative with their initial communications with you it can be a good sign that they’ll be great to work with as time goes by as well.

Making the Final Decision on a Supplement Manufacturer

Choosing a supplement manufacturer for your supplement brand can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Just make sure to consider the points above carefully and be sure to evaluate any manufacturer fully before you start working with them.

Ready to get started with your supplement manufacturing needs? Contact us today to learn more about Biovation Labs and to find out more about what we can do for you.