1. Flexibility of equipment for other applications. Don’t assume you’re developing requirements just for this particular package. Marketing may come knocking a year later with a request to go to a different package size. All your assumptions in the beginning are no longer valid; suddenly, your equipment has limited capabilities. You’ll be faulted because you didn’t think about what’s coming next.
2. Determining speed requirements. This really breaks down into multiple components: throughput (nominal, jog, surge) as well as the conveyor speed through the labeling area. Devise two speed requirements: one required to produce enough product for the initial launch and one for ongoing production. Make sure the speed the labeler will run at day in and day out will be 15-20 percent lower than the maximum speed of the equipment to avoid extra wear and tear. Also, build in excess capacity (15 percent is a rule of thumb) for future growth.
