Question:
As a print buyer what can I do to help my package print supplier reduce costs and increase service?

Answer:
Many of my consumer product company clients ask this very question. The short answer is to provide information. Many of your suppliers could service you better if they had forecast information sooner. This would allow them the lead-time they need to purchase raw materials as well as plan for machine usage.

It is not uncommon to have products run on less-effective machines because the right one is committed to another project. While this may not directly affect the cost of that job - because of contractual agreements - in the long run, accurate forecast information will allow the next contract to have sharper numbers applied.