As the cannabis industry continues to evolve, many companies are looking for ways to keep up with increased demand and stay a step ahead of the competition. This means many are turning toward automating manual tasks by employing equipment and machinery in their production process. Our managing director, Hogan, wrote about this trend for MG Magazine, a leading publication covering the recreational and medical cannabis business.
The current cannabis landscape means that original equipment manufacturers have tremendous opportunity, but they must first understand some of the industry’s unique characteristics and intricacies. Hogan shares some “lessons learned” in his article, based on our six years in the industry plus the 30+ years of traditional engineering and manufacturing background from our parent company, Portland Engineering.
The four best practices that Hogan outlines include:
- Strive toward Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP): As federal regulation is likely coming soon in the cannabis space, it is a good idea to future-proof success by ensuring that “equipment and machinery will be compliant and certified to meet the future requirements.” He stresses the importance of this and additional certifications, such as cETLus, which cover safety standards.
- Take a professional approach: While cannabis may seem like fun (and it is), it is important to take your business, and your clients, just as seriously as you would in any other industry. Set performance goals, take the time to deeply understand your client needs and strategize about how you can best help them. He writes, “Take your clients’ business goals seriously, and you will be one giant step closer to meeting your own goals.”
- Make customer service a priority: A good idea in any industry, making client relations and customer service a core part of your company ethos will go a long way in the cannabis space. Having a robust, accessible equipment support team that can solve problems for customers will help you stand out in a competitive market, and be the “driving force that keeps customers coming back.”
- Be flexible and adaptable: The cannabis space is evolving quickly, and smart OEMs will be able to pivot when needed. Hogan writes, “As the industry grows, your business needs to grow with it by developing new technology that will meet the challenges of the times.”
He concludes the article with: “The pace of change is accelerating in the cannabis industry. To keep up, companies must learn to take advantage of more efficient manufacturing practices and the automation of manual tasks. This creates an exceptional opportunity for OEMs to find success, as long as they keep a few key lessons in mind, they will help shape the future of an industry that shows no signs of slowing down.”