There’s never been a better time than to work with manufacturing companies. So many of them are embracing outsourcing as a way to keep themselves afloat, but as a freelancer, we could potentially have an entryway into a very lucrative career. But working with people in the manufacturing industry means that we’ve got to provide the goods. When they are on the lookout for a person to realize their vision at the very outset, or they are already an established company at the top of their game, we’ve got to ensure that we provide the services necessary for them to thrive. How do we do this?
Understanding Their Part Of The Supply Chain
A manufacturing company tends to be one part of a massive supply chain. And if you are working on one small aspect of their business, either by prototyping, using packaging design software, or even just redesigning a logo, you’ve got to be aware that you are a very small piece of a much bigger jigsaw puzzle. Once you understand your role in this, you can understand how best to work with them. Every part of a supply chain has its own needs, and if we are someone that flies in and completes a job, we have to remember we are very much the lowest priority.
Adopting Their Work Ethic
As a contractor, you’ve got to take a method actor approach to understanding what they want. Sometimes, clients in any industry have no idea what they actually want. This means that if you need to work with them up close and personal, it’s far better for you to adopt their work ethic so you can get under their skin. Do what they do, very much like an undercover cop. By understanding their work ethic, you dig deep into their core values, their culture, and this means you are able to realize the vision much better.
Communicating With Them So You Know Their Vision
At the same time, we’re not psychic! We need to know exactly how we should work to create a product that they want. We could be creating a prototype, or we could be redesigning the workflow software; whatever the process is, we’ve got to ensure that we are open and receptive to changes. Communication is an incredibly important tool with any freelancer or contractor. And this is why it’s vital for you to learn how to get along better with people of all walks of life. Yes, it is business, not personal, but it’s also important that you open yourself up to different ways of communicating. This is what will give you a better chance of realizing their version first time round, which means that they may potentially re-hire you for additional jobs, which can turn into an effective long-term working relationship.
Working as a contractor in any industry can feel like a somewhat faceless process. But when you are there to do one specific job, as tempting as it could be to do it and get on with your life and never see them again, it’s far better to delve deep into the underbelly of the process, so you can give them what they want, and everybody, including yourself, is happy!
