Is Your Supplement Manufacturer Slowing You Down?
When you’re building a supplement brand, your manufacturer should be a strategic asset, not the bottleneck holding you back. Far too often, brands with big potential get stuck in frustrating delays, inconsistent production, or vague communication that stalls progress and undermines trust. If your growth is being blocked, it might not be your product, but your manufacturer.
At Factory6, we’ve worked with countless brands that came to us after struggling with other manufacturers. Here’s how to tell if your current partner is slowing you down and what to look for instead.
Missed Timelines and Launch Delays
When every launch counts, missed deadlines are annoying and expensive.
Whether you're scaling into retail, running a big promotion, or trying to align a marketing campaign with product availability, production delays can cost you revenue and credibility. Unfortunately, some manufacturers overpromise and underdeliver, or they fail to account for lead time realities when it comes to ingredient sourcing, flavor sampling, or external delays.
What to look for instead:
A partner who builds realistic timelines and sticks to them.
Someone who proactively flags risks and works with you to course-correct.
A personal project manager who coordinates R&D, sourcing, and production efficiently so you’re not chasing updates.
Surprises don’t belong in your supply chain. At Factory6, we plan backward from your launch window and communicate every step.
Limited Capabilities That Don’t Match Your Vision
Some manufacturers are fine when you have one SKU, but as your brand evolves, adding new formats, functions, or flavor systems, you may find that your manufacturer can’t evolve with you.
If you decide to create a chewable tablet, an effervescent powder, or a three-product stack, but if your manufacturer is limited to only capsules or doesn’t have R&D to support product innovation, for example, you’ll hit a wall… but guess who won’t? Your competitors.
Instead, you need a manufacturer who:
Has multi-format expertise.
Supports R&D and flavor development in-house.
Can collaborate with you on both function and consumer experience without sacrificing compliance or stability.
We’ve built our capabilities to support creative, high-quality products. If you’ve got vision, we can bring it to life in the form of capsules, tablets, and powders.
Vague Communication That Slows Decision-Making
A lack of clear, timely communication is one of the most common issues supplement brands face during manufacturing.
If you’re constantly following up, getting bounced between departments, or receiving generic updates, it’s a red flag. You can’t move forward with confidence if your manufacturer won’t tell you what’s going on.
What to expect from a strong partner:
A dedicated point of contact who understands your brand and your goals.
Consistent updates on timelines, sourcing, and production milestones.
Honest feedback when there are challenges vs. last-minute excuses.
Our team stays close to every project. You’ll never be wondering where your product stands or who to contact.
Ingredient or Flavor Inconsistencies
As you grow, consistency becomes non-negotiable. One bad batch can lead to customer complaints, poor reviews, or even compliance issues. If your manufacturer doesn’t have tight quality control systems, especially when scaling, those problems become more likely.
Inconsistent flavor, texture, solubility, or dosing can destroy customer trust.
What a quality-first partner provides:
Batch-to-batch consistency backed by top-notch quality control.
Expert flavor capabilities and testing to ensure reliable performance.
Third-party testing and documentation that support label claims and compliance.
Flavor, function, and feel matter. At Factory6, we make sure they stay dialed in.
Lack of Strategic Support
If your manufacturer is only reacting to your requests, not guiding you toward smarter decisions, they’re not truly invested in your growth.
Many brands outgrow their original partners without realizing it. The systems that worked when you were launching your first SKU may no longer be enough to support a growing line or national expansion.
Here’s what strategic support should look like:
Guidance on lead times, sourcing backups, and formulation tweaks.
Experience with retail compliance, label reviews, and documentation.
A team that can flag risks early and recommend improvements.
Factory6 works as an extension of your team. We want your product to perform in the lab, in production, and in the hands of your customers.
Time for a New Partner?
If any of these pain points feel familiar, it’s worth asking: Is your current manufacturer helping your brand grow or holding it back?
We don’t exist to pump out products without context. Factory6 is here to help brands create exceptional supplements that scale with consistency, quality, and innovation.
From product concept to full production, our team is hands-on, responsive, and built for brands that are ready to level up. Let’s make your next move your best one.
