When choosing a contract packager, you are developing a partnership. As such, a contract packaging partner must be able to complete your project at a competitive cost aligned with your time schedule with quality assurance. They may also solve common problems in start-up businesses, limited production facilities, concerns about equipment investments, physical facilities, personnel training and more.
Here are some reasons why you may want to consider selecting a contract packager:
There is no available in-house equipment or expertise for a particular job
There's an alternative use viewed as a higher priority for the in-house equipment
A series of geographically separated facilities could serve the product better for national distribution
New packaging forms unfamiliar to your staff and equipment are being considered
Your actual or projected product volume under or over employs your own manufacturing lines, either short or long term

There's a short run for a new product market test, gift pack or seasonal appeal, which may require your company to invest in new equipment
Promoting your product with non-standard packaging or promotional inserts requiring special machinery or labor intensive work is specified
The pressure of new business or deadlines creates a heavy, short term workload for which you require experienced help to supplement the efforts of in-house staff
A product may more economically be shipped in bulk to a distant market, then unit packed locally
There's a specific, short-term requirement that may be better served by specific experience or equipment you don't have
Operations problems such as your plant closing for maintenance or your being faced with a labor availability problem cause you to consider alternative options
There's a warehouse full of a product that needs re-working to make it saleable
There's a new package form that is to be market tested before general introduction
There's a corporate downsizing in personnel, facilities or both
The company is faced with a high investment to meet regulatory and environmental requirements
However, there may be times when it may be premature to talk to a contract packager. For example, when:
The need is unclear or at least not clearly stated
The problem can be more effectively and efficiently addressed using other methods
You think the contract packager can salvage a project that you suspect is no longer salvageable
The company is not organizationally or financially prepared to implement the contract packager's suggestions