Procurement
What Determines MOQ & Lead Time?
See why quantity and timing depend on format, materials, printing, SKU count, artwork, finishing, and production scheduling.
MOQ is a project calculation
Minimum order quantity depends on the pouch format, dimensions, material structure, printing method, finishing, number of SKUs, and production setup. It is not a single number that applies to every packaging project.
Digital printing can be considered for launch quantities and multi-SKU programs, while rotogravure may be more suitable when artwork is stable and repeat production supports the setup. The final route should be quoted against the actual brief.
Lead time starts before the machine runs
Timing includes specification review, material and structure confirmation, artwork and dieline approval, proofing or sampling where needed, production scheduling, inspection, packing, and shipment coordination. Each project has its own critical path.
Unfinished artwork, changing quantities, several SKUs, special features, testing requirements, or an unconfirmed filling process can all affect the timeline. A clear scope makes the timeline easier to confirm.
How to get a useful first estimate
Share the product, format, approximate quantity by SKU, dimensions or fill weight, destination country, artwork status, target date, and any current package reference. It is fine to mark size or barrier as not sure; quantity and destination still help establish the commercial route.