In almost every industry and market that exists, incorporating or switching entirely to automated processes is becoming more common. Why is that? There are some who feel like automation is an optional upgrade and a trend. However, automation provides results that are so clear and compelling that it’s becoming increasingly hard to turn a blind eye to what it brings to the table.
The fact is, the automation industry is always finding new ways to help even the most specialized manufacturing processes, which is great. This is why you, as an entrepreneur in the vaping industry, ought to be keeping your eyes open.
In this article, we will explore how and why bringing in automated processes can completely transform your workflow.
Let’s take a moment to really understand just how big a deal automation is and what it can mean for you. Something that right now takes up a lot of time and effort is tray filling and transferring of vapes. Workers have to be careful when handling them due to their fragility and also have to pay attention to temperature among other factors. There’s just a lot of factors to deal with, and human error can slow things down.
Did you know that many businesses have solved these issues with automation already? That’s right, and it doesn’t matter if your product is vape juice or random jams and sauces, automated concentrate packaging has become a game changer. You now have specialized equipment that is far more precise, and problems like accidental spillage are no longer an issue.
You also have to remember that, unlike manual workers, automated machines can work 24/7. You might be starting to realize just how transformative it can be to invest in automation equipment.
According to Vape-Jet, some machines have the ability to fill between 5,000 and 10,000 vape cartridges in a single shift. If your business is scaling up quickly, you can benefit so much from automation. This brings us to our next point.
It’s natural to be a bit hesitant to drop money on new equipment. After all, these machines aren’t something you lightly invest in. That said, if you intend to stay in this business or the long haul, the savings you make will more than justify the initial investment.
Automation starts to become a legitimate option when you start calculating the minutiae of manufacturing costs. Think about it. When compared to a one-time cost, hiring workers for the same job simply doesn’t make sense. They need base pay, overtime pay, and periodical increments. Some estimates hold that labor alone accounts for $0.15 per unit, but this often increases with slowdowns or breakages.
On average, it is theoretically possible to halve your cost of goods (COGS) for 100k units from $2.28 to $1.25. That’s with fully automated machines running 12-hour shifts and flow wrapping. Of course, the exact savings you make will depend on the specific automation equipment you get, but regardless, there’s no question that it’s cost-effective.
Vaping is one of those markets that is seeing increasing amounts of government oversight and regulations. The harsh reality is that oftentimes, failing to meet new and sometimes what seem like arbitrary guidelines brings consequences. For instance, you might have to ensure that each cartridge contains specific amounts of nicotine, cannabis distillate, or CBD.
The FDA requires most manufacturers to abide by something known as the GMP. This refers to ‘Good Manufacturing Practices.’ Sometimes, the FDA will also insist on following cGMP, or ‘Current Good Manufacturing Practices.’ This requires you to use the latest and most up-to-date equipment or workflows.
If terms like GMP or cGMP seem harmless, be warned; you can face serious consequences that can range from fines, criminal charges, and loss of license. One of the many aspects of cGMP is proper labeling, which is something that many automation solutions take care of as well.
You really have to be careful, as data shows that product recalls have risen in recent years. According to Sedgwick, strict regulatory oversight has led to over 909 recalls across five industries in Q1 of 2024. The last thing you want is for honest mistakes from human error to lead to an expensive recall situation.
Long story short, you might be surprised to see the far-reaching impact that automating parts of your vape manufacturing can have. Yes, on the surface, it feels like the benefits are few and far between for the investment needed.
However, as we have seen in this article, switching to or incorporating automation can make life exponentially easier for you. After all, you are simply future-proofing yourself, and that’s an investment always worth making.
