If you own a small manufacturing business, industrial goods fulfillment concerns can eat you alive, especially if you're just ramping up and still working out the kinks. The fulfillment services you have to deal with might include taking and processing orders, assembly, packaging, warehousing and industrial goods distribution to name a few.

You can perform all these industrial fulfillment services yourself, or you can outsource some or all of your back-end fulfillment tasks. For example, you might decide to turn over the sub assembly and kitting to an industrial fulfillment service after you take a hard look at your processes to analyze their cost effectiveness. As you work through the process of deciding whether to go with an industrial fulfillment center or possibly incorporate an industrial goods fulfillment software solution, keep the following in mind:

1. Contact other clients of the industrial fulfillment solution that interests you most and learn about their level of satisfaction.

2. Ensure the industrial fulfillment houses you consider can promise Just-in-Time delivery to you and your customers.

3. Confirm that the industrial goods fulfillment services you research contain state-of-the art equipment to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider outsourcing much of your back-end operations to industrial goods fulfillment houses

If you don't want the hassle and cost of large inventories, a larger facility to heat, cool and maintain and hiring more employees, you might truly appreciate the weight industrial fulfillment companies can take off your back.

I recommend: Contact Ferber Warehousing to handle all your fulfillment needs, including returns management. Visit the Aim Industrial Group website to learn more about their manufacturing, logistics and marketing fulfillment operations.

Use fulfillment services to take care of your packaging needs

Think about making the best use of all your resources. You might turn out more product by converting your packaging employees over to your manufacturing operation, outsource the packaging and warehousing functions and free up space for your primary business.

I recommend: Precision Packaging Services include packaging and assembly services, warehouse fulfillment, short and long runs and inventory reporting with customer access. Talk with Eaton Contract Manufacturing about outsourcing all your industrial services fulfillment packaging, light assembly, storage and shipping needs.

Improve your fulfillment services with a software solution

Your business plan may dictate that you keep your fulfillment operations in house for now, but you still need a streamlined process to maximize your profits. A tailored software solution may offer the fix to your company's situation.

I recommend: ASi will perform a needs assessment at your facility via interviews, observation and analysis and then propose a software industrial services fulfillment solution customized to your business. You should also consider the range of benefits gained by going with a software solution from Distribution One.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As you begin your research, design a matrix that contains the criteria you'll use to decide on an industrial fulfillment solution, and be sure to include room to compare several possible solutions. This will give you an at-a-glance comparison of all the industrial goods fulfillment companies, services or products you consider.