subject: Challenges You May Encounter From A Supplement Manufacturer [print this page] The emergence of the supplement manufacturing as a growing lucrative business prospect is well and truly evident from the fact the industry is worth $20 billion in the United States of America alone. The high cost of setting up a manufacturing facility makes it only feasible that one avails the expert services of a supplement manufacturer for all the minute aspects involving the dietary supplements, their form and composition as well as their private labeling and quality control issues.
But, the unprecedented growth of the supplement manufacturing companies has made this very evident that there are a lot of challenges and problems that one may encounter from a Nutritional Supplement Manufacturer. Ideally, the various Supplement Manufacturers and their respective clients are expected to work in tandem and create products that are in accordance to the needs of the community and also high on quality as well as viable in the present markets. In a nutshell, the following problems often come up in the day-to-day interactions:
Poor quality control
Non-compliance to the Good Manufacturing Processes(GMP)
Inexperienced research & Development (R&D) departments
Substitution of cheaper compounds
Inadequate facilities
Communication
Trust
Mislabeling of health supplements
The sub-potency or super-potency of the supplement formula, mislabeling of the labels, and failure of the dissolution often mar the nutraceutical supplements on the grounds of quality. Further the lack of some much needed extensive method development and research processes make it difficult to verify the level of compound present against the stated levels claimed. The problems in batch lot testing and the lax attitudes towards availing the services of independent laboratories for further strengthening of the product quality only add to the pre-existing troubles regarding quality control. The presence of Good Manufacturing Practices or GMPs is a shot in the arm as far the quality control measures are concerned, but the fact that they are voluntary and more in a self-regulatory direction does not help matters either. Some more challenging aspects such as the mislabeling of supplements, inadequate facilities of the manufacturing units and the unethical substitution of cheaper compounds and addition of various harmful (sometimes dangerous additives) hamper the trust and contribute in the loss of consumer confidence.
Undoubtedly, the various challenges that the buyers may face from the supplement manufacturers are immense. But, the various market benefits like reasonable costs per milligram, custom formulation and timely deliveries of quality nutraceutical supplements make up for the problems.
