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L. J. KEELER, Food Processing Center, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, Dept. of Food Science & Technology, 143 Food Industry Complex, Lincoln, NE 68508-0930 This presentation will cover the basic considerations required to successfully navigate that big step when you move from the pilot lab or bench into the world of mass production. Real life examples of issues encountered in scale up and custom processing will be discussed in detail. The key to successfully producing your products for the first time and every time at a contract manufacturing facility can be summed up in the following six words-Preparation, Practicality, Patience, Coordination, Cooperation, and Creativity. Being fully prepared for that first processing encounter involves development of specifications for all aspects of the product-raw materials through finished packaging and labeling materials. Formulations should be clearly determined with full descriptions of raw ingredients, processing parameters, and processing procedures. Be sure to have practical processing instructions and sampling procedures-don’t make the plant personnel hate to run your product. Have patience in overcoming obstacles that arise, put some thought into alternatives to your process, ingredients, and specifications so that you can live with any emergency changes. Coordinate the responsibility of sourcing all ingredients, packaging, labels, etc. Make sure you have a check list so that everything arrives on time, in good shape. Be willing to cooperate and be flexible when you can, working with the contract manufacturer as a partner. Be prepared to creatively solve problems, look outside the normal avenues for solving problems.
Session 85, Contract manufacturing: How to select and improve outsourcing partnerships - Beyond the contract
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