from small lots
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What is a small lot?
A small lot is a term referring to a form in which manufacturing and procurement are possible from a small quantity, unlike ordinary mass production or large-scale ordering. In the context of the food industry and OEM, it is widely used for prototyping new products, limited sales, and production that keeps inventory risk down.
In general food OEM, where manufacturing is often from units of several hundred kg, small-lot handling has become a means of lowering the entry hurdle for sole proprietors and small and medium businesses.
Characteristics and background of small lots
Affinity with new businesses: easy to use for prototypes and test marketing
Reduced inventory risk: production according to demand is possible without holding large inventory
OEM needs: demand for finding a “small-lot maker” is increasing for beverages, supplements, dried vegetables, and the like
Market background: with the increase of D2C brands and sole proprietors, demand for small-lot production is expanding
Technological progress: with the evolution of processing technology and equipment, cost-controlled production is becoming possible even on small-scale lines
Examples of using small lots at Agriture
In OEM of dried vegetables and vegetable powder, we handle small-lot manufacturing from units of several tens of kg
Used for prototype requests for new products and small-scale production of seasonal limited products
An effort to make small-lot trial sales possible by using off-grade vegetables
Support for test exports in small-scale lots with an eye to exporting to overseas markets
Related keywords
Small-quantity production
Test marketing
Inventory risk
Food manufacturing for sole proprietors
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FAQ
Q1. Does small-lot production have a high cost?
A. Yes. The unit price is higher than mass production, but because inventory risk decreases, there are many cases where a merit appears in total cost.
Q2. From about what quantity is it called a “small lot”?
A. It differs by industry and product, but in food OEM it often refers to from about several tens of kg to 100 kg.
Q3. About what small lot can Agriture handle?
A. It depends on the raw material, but for dried vegetables and powder, OEM handling from units of several tens of kg is possible.
