What Small-Scale Manufacturing Can Do for Big Innovators

Does this sound familiar? Innovation is so challenging for us because it is easier to maintain focus on the types of products we already make in our established factories. Reluctance to look beyond current capabilities can be a frustrating barrier to innovation.

In contrast, startups begin with small-scale manufacturing and external co-manufacturers for flexibility, which gives them an innovation advantage. It’s amazing the innovation leaps big companies can make when we connect them with small-scale co-manufacturing partners, unlocking a nimble approach to producing product for testing, giving them the speed and flexibility of entrepreneurial brands.

For example, I was recently working with a company on a product that was a real departure from their portfolio of products mainly packaged in pouches. The innovation centered around a novel packaging structure—a rigid plastic cup. Given the company's existing manufacturing setup was tailored for pouches, this new packaging would have disrupted their entire system.

They wanted to test the idea before full-scale implementation, but their current systems couldn't produce the new packaging in small quantities. So, we tapped into our network to identify vendors and equipment rental options that would allow us to test the concept on a smaller scale, saving thousands of dollars compared to purchasing.

The test helped the client realize that the product's value proposition wasn't tied to the packaging, disproving the hypothesis that the new packaging would justify potential manufacturing costs and complexities. This insight not only saved the company from investing significant capital, but also identified a more efficient and cost-effective packaging structure, improving margins and allowing for a lower price point that resonated better with consumers.

Curious about how co-manufacturing can support your innovation testing? Reach us at hello@mission-field.com