Long lead times and delays
19 November 2025
LPC survey findings show these are the biggest packaging challenges facing industrial and technical equipment manufacturers
A recent survey of buyers of crates, cases, foam inserts, and pallets uncovered a painful reality: traditional industrial packaging suppliers are not meeting operational needs, forcing manufacturers into costly workarounds and scheduling chaos.
Survey Summary
The most commonly reported frustration was long lead times and delays, which compelled certain respondents to either incur costs for expedited shipping, miss essential shipping deadlines or hold excess inventory to compensate for the supplier’s poor delivery times.
Respondents also expressed frustration with rigid Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) that required them to purchase more than necessary, resulting in surplus inventory, wasted storage space, and cash tied up that could be allocated more effectively elsewhere.
Conversely, the factor respondents felt least challenged by was packaging performance and customization, suggesting the quality of the final product is less of a concern than the process of acquiring it.
Industrial packaging suppliers are sick of hearing “that’s not what we do!”
These survey results underscore increasing market frustration with suppliers that force customers into a “rigid box” with zero flexibility and long lead times that forces them into juggling multiple vendors for packaging supply certainty.
For many of those surveyed, this fragmentation is the root cause of the scheduling chaos and reliability issues.
Stop paying for their mistakes
Here at Larson Packaging Company, we believe manufacturers and suppliers of industrial and technical equipment deserve suppliers who treats your deadlines as seriously as you do.
That’s why we have built our company on the promise of no excuses, no delays, no last-minute surprises and no silly demands.
To that end, here’s how we make it happen:
- “Velocity” Just-in-Time Scheduling: Our proprietary system synchronizes production, inventory, and logistics to eliminate bottlenecks and keep your projects on track.
- Outcome-Focused Engineering: We help our customers shift the focus from lowest upfront price to lowest Total Cost of Ownership. Our in-house design experts utilize a proven engineering approach, including the Lansmont 6-Step Process, to optimize designs for usability, reduced shipping volume, and damage prevention.
- In-House Manufacturing + Inventory Control: Unlike distributors who rely on third parties, we own the process end-to-end, so lead times aren’t at the mercy of someone else’s delays.
- Smart, Packaging. Guaranteed! Program: Late delivery? We’ll refund a portion of your costs — because accountability should be built into the contract, not begged for after the fact.
Your Operational Certainty Matters
The survey makes one thing crystal clear: manufacturers are exhausted with suppliers who treat flexibility and reliability as “special requests.” These aren’t luxuries. They’re baseline operational requirements.
That’s the difference between a vendor and a true partner.