Episode 011: Kitting & Bundling – When to Keep It In-House and When to Outsource

In this episode of Find Your Source, Stephen breaks down one of the most overlooked—and most operationally complex—parts of product fulfillment: kitting and bundling. Whether you’re assembling e-commerce sets, promotional packs, or sub-assemblies for manufacturing, the big question remains: Should you do it in-house or outsource it?

Drawing from decades of supply chain and manufacturing experience, Stephen walks through how to make that decision strategically—balancing control, cost, speed, and scalability. He also shares a comprehensive checklist used by top-performing companies to evaluate outsourcing partners and maintain operational excellence.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• How to decide whether in-house or outsourced kitting makes sense for your operation

• What factors truly impact cost, quality, and lead time

• The 10-point checklist for outsourcing success:

  1. Define scope clearly — packaging specs, ownership, and process flow

  2. Vet your partner — capabilities, certifications, stability, and references

  3. Maintain data control — traceability, dashboards, and reconciliation

  4. Set quality standards — QA checklists, sample approval, and defect thresholds

  5. Communicate consistently — weekly cadence calls and escalation paths

  6. Structure contracts wisely — transparent pricing, SLAs, and exit terms

  7. Optimize logistics — co-location, cross-docking, and replenishment cadence

  8. Ensure compliance and security — NDAs, insurance, and business continuity

  9. Track and improve — KPIs, CAPA reviews, and quarterly performance meetings

  10. Plan for scale — modular setups, redundancy, and multi-site flexibility

Stephen emphasizes that successful outsourcing isn’t about giving up control—it’s about creating systems that maintain it, even when you’re not the one assembling every box.

📬 Ready to refine your operation? Visit the “Work With Me” tab at findyoursource.pro to connect with Stephen for help auditing your fulfillment process, selecting kitting partners, or setting up in-house workflows that scale.