Top 7 Considerations When Evaluating a Packaging Supplier's Facility

Healthcare product packaging is sophisticated. The design, materials, and format must perform flawlessly to meet stringent regulatory requirements and application needs. Add to it end user expectations regarding ease of use and increasing consumer demand for sustainable options, and suddenly manufacturers have their hands full in sorting out priorities.

Building a trusted relationship with a healthcare packaging supplier takes the responsibility for packaging management off of manufacturers. Working with a packaging expert provides opportunities for collaborative decision-making that addresses all aspects of packaging and leads to effective solutions.

Any number of packaging providers may be able to meet the need, but being deliberate in finding a partner with experience in the specialized area of healthcare products packaging is worth the time and effort.

Assessing the facilities of prospects before you find or switch packaging suppliers is particularly informative using the following criteria.

Before pursuing facility tours, it’s a good idea to do some cursory research on prospective packaging suppliers to narrow the field. Have they earned a good reputation in the healthcare industry? Have they demonstrated the ability to provide high-quality healthcare packaging solutions? A quick online search or reaching out to colleagues will likely produce fast answers.

Once qualified suppliers are identified and tours scheduled, the real assessment begins. The people, processes, and best practices a packaging supplier has in place signals their partnership potential.

Within its facility, a healthcare packaging supplier needs to demonstrate:

1. Cleanliness

Healthcare product packaging must be produced in an exceptionally clean environment. Evaluate the facility’s general cleanliness and inquire about adherence to hygiene protocols and availability of clean rooms. Pay attention to how the supplier integrates all methods into a comprehensive process for contamination risk mitigation and top-level product and patient safety.

2. Quality control

Quality drives all aspects of healthcare products packaging; without it, there could be dire consequences. FDA and ISO regulatory compliance can become an issue, compromised products could face recall, or end user health and safety may be put at risk. A supplier with on-site laboratories and dedicated packaging testing sites is better positioned to provide quality assurance services and results that are reliable, timely, and cost-effective.

3. Manufacturing capabilities

Manufacturing may seem to be the most obvious of healthcare packaging supplier considerations, but it’s not a given. Be specific in describing needs and expectations to verify capabilities. There is also the matter of prototyping and package customization. Even if it’s not an immediate need, it’s important to know how much flexibility a supplier has to pivot when packaging calls for a custom solution.

4. Supply chain management

The impact of recent global events revealed the vulnerabilities of global supply chains. Challenges can arise at any time, for any reason. Gain a clear understanding of how the packaging supplier maintains business continuity. Ask specific questions about supply chain management practices concerning sourcing, alternate materials, risk mitigation, etc., and how they impact product delivery efficiencies.

5. Sustainability practices

Consider the packaging supplier’s awareness of sustainable packaging trends and their approach to sustainability practices. For example, the use of eco-friendly materials and recycling programs is an indicator of commitment to reducing emissions, carbon footprint, and the overall environmental impact of packaging.

6. Customer service and support

A relationship with a healthcare packaging supplier isn’t one-dimensional. While package quality and performance are central to success, how the supplier supports the partnership also adds value. Consider the supplier’s customer support structure: Is it set up to provide actionable, responsive communication and service in routine and emergency situations?

7. Cost and pricing

Price is always a consideration, but choosing a supplier based on lowest price point could wind up being costly. Understanding the supplier’s approach to pricing and cost competitiveness likely also reflects their approach to prioritizing healthcare packaging quality and reliability.

A healthcare packaging supplier’s facility can speak volumes about what you can expect from a partnership with them. Amcor prides itself on being a leader in ideation, collaboration, and innovation from the inside out, with world-class facilities that support the future of medical and pharmaceutical packaging today. Request a packaging needs assessment to experience the Amcor difference.