“How much is my expansion project going to cost?” – The importance of a comprehensive design phase when planning your food factory

One question that always arises when considering an expansion project is how much is my project going to cost? Taking time with a thorough design phase means that you can discuss the necessary specifics to ensure you understand what is included and costed within the scope. This reduces the risk of complications later on in the project and can mean both you and the contractor know exactly what has been allowed for in the project.

Detailing all elements of the job

With a comprehensive design phase, you can ensure that every area of your expansion project is discussed and thrashed out, down to every detail. Taking time over these details will mean that you have included everything down to the last minutiae and also enables your chosen partner to quote the build and fit-out phase of the project more accurately. This will mean your quote will be an accurate representative of what your expansion project is going to cost.

Unforeseen costs due to last minute changes.

Something you don’t want when moving into a new factory facility is regrets. Not being presented with design options in detail could result in fundamental design flaws. You don’t want to be later discovering better ways you could have built your new facilities and wondering why you didn’t consider or do them.

Choosing to carry out a design phase with an experienced food industry partner will mean all the options will be laid out to you to ensure that your new factory is built specifically to your business’s manufacturing needs. This then means you can choose the best option for you and have one fixed cost to go by, saving cost in the long run as last-minute changes/additions can add significant expense to your project.

Aligning cost with what your business needs to support your growth

A common starting place is deciding how much space you need in your new factory facility to allow your business to cope with the growth you’re experiencing. If you skip the design phase, how are you able to determine the building size you require, or the amount of production space you need? Discussing the must-haves of your new factory with a turnkey fit-out partner like Oakley means you can be given guidance on cost by the design team from previous experience. This will give you an idea of how large your project is going to be and have a realistic cost in mind rather than pulling a number out of the air!

Knowledge of food safety certifications

Food safety certifications are often overlooked when planning an expansion project. Without knowledge of certain accreditations such as BRC or SALSA, you may find yourself in a difficult position when realising these haven’t been considered due to the design phase being avoided. This can have a serious negative impact on the cost of the project due to unforeseen additions/changes being made to ensure you comply with for accreditation requirements.

Working with a knowledgeable food industry design partner will mean that these accreditations are considered throughout the design process. This is not only important for the reputation of your brand but also saves you a lot of extra cost in the long run due to last minute additions being made to the project, to ensure the new factory facility meets food safety requirements.

Oakley’s strong reputation is built on solid food factory design experience coupled with a unique turnkey approach that removes the stress and risks from food factory expansion. Get in touch with us for a no-obligation chat about your plans and we’ll advise what we think is best for you.