The Supplement Manufacturing Process in 7 Steps
The Dietary Supplement Market
According to a survey conducted in 2023 by the Council for Responsible Nutrition, 74% of adults in the United States have used dietary supplements, and 55% consider themselves “regular users.” Given the large variety of health needs faced by consumers, it is imperative for good, quality products that address those needs to be manufactured and introduced to the market. If transforming a product idea into a supplement you can sell is what you are trying to do - or if you are merely interested in the process that brought your favorite dietary supplements to life - then this post is for you!
What does it take to create a product?
Bringing a product to life is an exciting endeavor, but the complexities of the process can deter even the most passionate of creators. To be successful, you will need food scientists, manufacturing equipment, large facilities, certifications, and more. How can you take these steps even when they seem like barriers? By partnering with experienced professionals! Companies like Nutra Connection have already invested in the equipment and training necessary to become experts that small and large companies can trust to help bring their products to life. They can provide services that begin with product formulation and conclude with order fulfillment. Altogether, we refer to this journey as the “Supplement Manufacturing Process,” which can be summarized in the following 7 steps:
The 7 Steps
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The first step in the supplement manufacturing process is R&D, which involves researching a need and developing a product to meet it. You should work with experts whose knowledge of food science can help you to formulate a supplement that is not only effective & safe, but also manufacturable.
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The nutraceutical industry values quality, so the second step is to source pure and potent ingredients that won’t tarnish the efficacy of your supplement. Manufacturers often try to partner with high-quality suppliers, but make sure to ask about their resources!
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Step 3 is essential for maintaining manufacturing accuracy and producing quality products: Raw Material Testing. Manufacturers should send samples of all incoming raw materials to third-party labs for testing. Nutra Connection, for example, has third-party labs perform Identity and Microbial testing on all of their incoming raw materials - and clients can order additional tests if needed. For quality assurance, regular quality checks should also be conducted on manufacturing equipment.
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Utilize a Contract Manufacturer to manufacture your product according to its formula specifications. Companies like Nutra Connection have invested in machines and manufacturing equipment that can often make producing your supplement easier (and cheaper) than investing in the same equipment yourself.
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Confirm that your product was manufactured properly and is ready to be packaged.
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Step 6 is to design your packaging, print your labels, and package your final product! Make your product look good and be sure to follow all FDA guidelines for labeling. At Nutra Connection, we can assist you with packaging your product, but we will need to refer you to high-quality printers for help designing/printing your packaging materials.
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The final step in the supplement manufacturing process is to manage your inventory and fulfill customer orders. Depending on your background and capabilities, these tasks can also be supported by a partner if necessary. Nutra Connection, for example, provides Warehousing and Order Fulfillment Services. We can help manage and ship your customer orders!
Can Nutra Connection help you?
Most likely, the answer is yes! Our business is built to help passionate creators from small or large companies develop and manufacture products that bring value to the market. If you are a passionate creator held back by any - or all - of the seven steps in the manufacturing process, then Nutra Connection may be able to help! We provide Product Development, Nutraceutical & Food Manufacturing, Packaging, Quality Testing, Warehousing, Order Fulfillment, and Shipping & Inventory Management services. (Click here to learn more). If you need any of these services, please contact us today for help!
