Volume production at low margin.
WHY THE ECONOMICS ARE DIFFICULT
The unit price is very low and every cost matters.
WHAT DETERMINES VIABILITY
Volume Cost per sachet Distribution reach Downtime
WHAT COSTS PER SACHET
Film Water and treatment consumables Power Labour Packaging for bundles Distribution
WHY POWER DOMINATES
Machines, pumps and cooling run continuously, and supply is unreliable.
WHAT TO CALCULATE
Cost per sachet including power at realistic supply, with generator running.
WHY AT REALISTIC SUPPLY
Costing on grid power produces a figure the business never achieves.
WHAT THE PRODUCTION PROCESS INVOLVES
Treatment Storage of treated water Filling and sealing Bundling Cold storage, where applicable Despatch
WHAT SEALING DETERMINES
Whether the product leaks and whether it stays safe.
WHY LEAKS MATTER COMMERCIALLY
They destroy bundles and they are the commonest customer complaint.
WHAT AFFECTS SEAL QUALITY
Film quality and thickness Sealing temperature and pressure Machine condition and alignment Water temperature
WHAT TO MONITOR
Seal integrity, by sampling regularly.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Film specification, and buy consistently.
WHY
Film varies, and cheaper film produces failures that exceed the saving.
WHAT LABELLING MUST CARRY
Producer name and address Registration number Batch or production identifier Production and expiry dates Volume
WHY BATCH IDENTIFIERS
They make traceability and any recall possible.
WHAT TO RECORD
Production volume, batch, and quality checks, per run.
