While there may be unexpected hiccups in the contract manufacturing process, these don’t have to be a surprise. Set milestones and make avenues for regular communications so that all parties can stay informed and on track. Be sure you and your supplier adopt a “no surprises” approach to doing business.
A Quality Management System (QMS) can help, allowing you to centralize communications and track issues without having to worry about key information getting buried or lost in an email chain.