Thursday, January 15, 2009

INTRODUCTION TO THE BUSINESS OF MANUFACTURING

Introduction to the Business of Manufacturing

The manufacturing business is probably the most challenging business a person can get into especially if he manufactures several products at the same time. Unlike the retail business or service business, for example, a manufacturing business has a lot of potential problem areas that should be resolved even at the start of the operation. Some of the issues a manufacturing has to deal with include the sourcing of the raw materials, training of the workers, and even controlling the inventory level. They also need to deal with financial concerns because a lot of investments are tied up on their inventory. In addition, manufacturing businesses usually have to wait a long period of time before their inventory is liquidated.

A manufacturing company also has to find different retailers and wholesalers who will carry their products so that they will have a wide distribution network. As you can see, going into a manufacturing business is not that easy so you might be wondering why you should get involved in this kind of business at all. Well, the answer to this is quite simple, getting into a manufacturing business can be rewarding. This is because once you have established an effective manufacturing process, have the right people, and have the necessary distribution network, profitability is almost guaranteed. You should also note that you will be able to derive these profits consistently for as long as your product remains in demand even for a specific period of time.

Even before you start a manufacturing business though, you first need to believe in your business and the product you will introduce. This is because your business profitability relies mostly on the products you manufacture. You should note that unlike a retail business where location and advertising is important, in a manufacturing business, your customers will not really care where the factory is located. All they care about is the end-product they will buy and whether it meets high quality standards.

Other important factors to consider when you want to enter manufacturing are your technical expertise or the technical expertise of your employees about the manufacturing process. A manufacturing company also needs to have a highly effective quality assurance team that will make sure that all products that are released in the market meet the set standards of acceptability. The price of the product you manufacture is likewise important because this is a critical component in deciding whether the product is saleable or not.

Now that you know the pros and cons of investing in a manufacturing business, it is now your decision whether you want to get involved in this kind of business or not. But remember that like any other kinds of business, a manufacturing business also requires continual innovation to be one step ahead of the competition.

Together we shall win,

Adesegun Akitoye

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